TERROR ATTACK AT STEPHENSTOWN
Members of the Garda Armed Support Unit and Garda Hostage Negotiators taking part in the Major Emergency Exercise at Newtownfane.
A ‘ hostage’ situation emerged during a major training exercise involving emergency services and state agencies in Louth last week.
Operation Teorann also crossed into County Monaghan after a simulated ‘emergency’ unfolded in the Knockbridge area.
The scenario involved staff from Louth County Council who discovered trespassers discharging contents from a tanker into the River Fane at the water pumping station at Newtownfane.
Staff alerted Gardai to the incident, but were taken hostage by two of the men involved.
The dramatic scenes then saw one of the offenders speeding away from the scene in a second tanker.
He later became involved in a major road traffic accident with a bus some distance away in County Monaghan.
The collision resulted in what was described as ‘multiple fatalities and injuries’.
All of the emergency services which would normally respond to real life incidents such as these took part in the training exercise including An Garda Síochána, the HSE (National Ambulance Service), Louth County Council and Monaghan County Council.
With incidents occurring close to the border, the exercise also tested communication with emergency services in Northern Ireland.
Although many of the roles were played by actors, a garda spokesman explained that the force worked with the ‘partner Principle Response Agencies (PRA’s) to exercise our activation, response, and coordination in responding to a complex and dynamic emergency situation.’
Although these were planned events, a series of unexpected challenges were also added to test the response of all those involved.
Specialist Garda units including Armed Response Units, the Emergency Response Unit and trained hostage negotiators were involved, responding to what was ‘an evolving hostage/ barricade situation’ in Louth, alongside a ‘related and simultaneous multiple casualty road traffic collision.’
The spokesman added that the purpose of this complex exercise was ‘ to test the capacity of all the Principle Response Agencies in a major emergency to respond and co-ordinate their activities effectively.’