‘No tolerance’ for demos targeting homes: Harris

GARDA Commissioner Drew Harris has warned that gardaí will take a ‘no-tolerance’ approach with protesters who target the homes of government ministers.

No forms of intimidation outside the homes of elected officials or other public figures would be tolerated, the Garda chief said.

Commissioner Harris’s statement came two days after a group of campaigners held a silent protest at the home of Health Minister Simon Harris.

Drew Harris told the Oireachtas Justice Committee: ‘That is a scaling-up of what one could call a legitimate protest activity. Demonstrating outside a government building is an entirely different kettle of fish to demonstrating at somebody’s home.’

He was appearing at the committee to address failings in the Garda Juvenile Diversion programme. He said more than 3,000 gardaí were being considered for disciplinary action over youth crimes which were not followed up.

A report last month showed 3,500 minors got away with almost 8,000 crimes due to failings by some gardaí.