The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
WAVE OF DRINK AND DRUG FUELLED ATTACKS ON GARDAÍ
A LACK of back-up is putting gardaí in danger of serious harm from drink and drug fuelled attacks as they patrol the streets of Kerry.
Shocking statistics released this week reveal that 27 Kerry gardaí have been attacked and injured in the line of duty in the past 15 months.
Most of the assaults on gardaí occured as they dealt with public order incidents involving drink and drug fuelled revellers.
Aside from the assaults, gardaí told The Kerryman about how: “We are regularly spat at and shouted at. We are dealing with people fuelled with drugs and alcohol. There is no respect for the Force.”
Seamus Moriarty, who is Kerry’s representative on the Central Executive of the Garda Representative Association (GRA), said a lack of manpower is the key issue putting serving gardaí in danger.
“A lot of assaults occur after night-clubs, and more resources are needed. We have a lot of injured members at the moment but this is a tourist county with a lot of night-clubs.”
He says that the “health and safety of the gardaí is paramount” and extra gardaí are needed throughout the county to ensure the safety of all on the Force.
“These gardaí have families too and we hope that anyone that goes out to work in any walk of life should come home safe,” he said. “Extra numbers are needed. There is safety in numbers.”
He repeated calls by the GRA that gardaí should be armed with tasers.
Facial injuries, dislocated joints and and broken bones are just some of the injuries suffered by Kerry gardaí in the past 15 months.
Gardaí have also reported having blood spat at them and are regularly abused by drunken revellers on the streets.
Many gardaí also suffer emotional trauma due to the deeply upsetting nature of some incidents they have attended.
Chief Supt Tom Myers told the Kerry Joint Policing Committee this week that the high number of gardaí being injured in Kerry is a serious matter.
“This is a matter of health and safety for our gardaí,” he said.
The loss of 27 gardai to injuries is also putting extra pressure on the Force which is already operating at a reduced capacity.
“We are very conscious of the lost man-hours,” he said.
Many of the incidents in which gardaí have been injured are currently before the courts and the message from garda management is that anyone who assaults a member of the Force will be dealt with severely.