Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Hundreds of thousands to turn out at Croker & Phoenix PARK LIFE
Cost of trip to top £16m..half of Obama and Queen’s week But Catholic Church leader will not cross over the border
A GIANT security operation to protect the Pope is likely to cost in the tens of millions, security experts have said.
The most recent big VIP occasions were the visits of President Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth – in the same week in 2011.
Taxpayers forked out a combined £31million for those visits but the pontiff’s is expected to cost half of that figure this time.
Security sources said plans were already underway to deploy thousands of Irish police and military personnel.
One said: “It is going to be very expensive and the initial estimate very rarely comes in under budget. The good news is that it appears to be centred around one city, Dublin, which will make it cheaper.
“For the Queen and US President visits were initially costed at £20million but turned out to be closer to £31million. That was a full week – this will be two days.
“The cost outlay for these operations comes in manpower, putting personnel up in hotels for several days, getting in fencing and protection posts, also the provision of round-the-clock surveillance and aircraft is always expensive.
MANPOWER
“Croke Park will involve closing off areas around the stadium under the Public Order Act. Gardai have regular experience of this.
“The Phoenix Park operation will be enormous but during the Queen’s visit the whole park was sealed off. It takes huge manpower.
“The Pope then may parade through the city which means every inch of the route has to be searched and secured.”
As with previous visits the visible protection will come from the uniform ranks of An Garda Siochana drawn from a nationwide pool.
And members of the Emergency Response Unit are to provide close protection but the Pope will travel with his own Vatican security detail.
Irish military personnel are expected to provide logistics and security – with the Army Ranger Wing also deployed.
And members of the Emergency Response Unit are expected to provide close protection but the Pope will travel with his own Vatican security detail.
The Air Support Unit will provide helicopter coverage but it is likely that this will be augmented by the Air Corps. POPE Francis is to visit Ireland this summer and will celebrate Mass in the Phoenix Park, it was confirmed yesterday.
The 81-year-old pontiff will arrive in Dublin on Saturday, August 25, to take part in the Festival of Families at Croke Park. And the following day hundreds of thousands are expected to turn out at the Phoenix Park where he will celebrate Mass. It will be the first papal visit since Pope John Paul II came in 1979 – when 1.25million attended an open-air Mass. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was pleased by the news. He added: “On behalf of the Government I welcome the announcement by Pope Francis of his intention to come to Ireland in August for the World Meeting of Families. “I look forward to meeting him during his visit.”
Confirmation of the visit comes after months of speculation and the announcement has been welcomed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
In a statement, the bishops said: “We are deeply honoured Pope Francis will come to our country to participate in this universal church celebration of faith and joy, as well as of the contemporary challenges which face families.
“With great anticipation we also look forward to hearing the apostolic guidance of His Holiness during his stay with us.
“Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, as President of the World Meeting of Families 2018, has been charged with undertaking the significant task of organising this global celebration.
“And each of the other 25 dioceses on the island of Ireland is supporting the host diocese to ensure its success for the whole country and for the world. We eagerly await the visit of Pope Francis, which no doubt will be an occasion of spiritual renewal for our laity, religious and clergy and strengthening of Christian family life.”
It has only been confirmed that he will visit Dublin despite speculation that the Pope would visit Northern Ireland during his tour.
Political uncertainty in Northern Ireland and the absence of a functioning Executive are believed to have