CAN WE COPE WITH TERROR THREAT?

FEARS VOICED OVER GARDAÍ AND ARMY’S ABILITY TO DEAL WITH A TERROR ATTACK OUTSIDE DUBLIN

THE prospect of a terror attack on the Ring of Kerry has been raised as the Dáil debated whether the Gardaí and armed forces are equipped to deal with a terrorist incident outside Dublin.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Defence Mayo TD Lisa Chambers raised the risk of an attack in Kerry during a debate on International Terrorism in the Dáil last week.

“Should an attack take place requiring specialist intervention in the south west or the north west, the transportation of the specialist forces would be a major challenge due to the geography of the country,” said Deputy Chambers.

Deputy Chambers – who held the rank of Lieutenant in the Reserve Defence Forces until she entered the Dáil in 2016 – said the defence forces would face serious difficulties in getting troops or other security personnel to the scene of an attack if one occurred in an isolated area.

“The Air Corps does not have a troop-carrying vehicle to transfer personnel from one location to another. As a consequence, it would take us a number of hours to get the specialists to a particular location,” she said.

“If, for example, there was an incident in the Ring of Kerry or somewhere in Mayo, how would we transport the troops that we need or personnel from the ERU to that location?” asked Deputy Chambers.

“Could we reasonably respond in the same time-frame, for example, that the emergency units in the UK responded to the attacks that took place there recently? I believe the honest answer would be ‘No’” she said.

While an attack on Ireland is seen as unlikely it is a possibility and – in the wake of recent attacks in the UK – increased security measures have been put in place at concerts, festivals and major sporting events.

Last month it emerged that armed gardaí from the force’s Regional Support Units will be monitoring security at next months Rose of Tralee festival.

Gardaí have also identified other popular tourist events in Kerry, such as the 4th of July celebrations in Killarney, as possible targets.

However Gardaí continue to stress that they view the chances of attack in Ireland as ‘moderate’.

On Friday gardaí mounted a major counter terrorism training exercise at Spencer Dock Train Station in Dublin. The simulated incident involved two terrorists driving a van into a pedestrian before entering the station and attacking commuters with a knife and gun.