Gardaí successfully trial policing strategy at lockdown protest ahead of looming demonstrations
GARDAÍ successfully trialled a new public order policing strategy at Saturday’s Cork anti-lockdown protest amid fears Ireland could witness several mass rallies over St Patrick’s week as frustrations mount over strict Covid-19 restrictions.
Officers hailed the intelligence-led policing of the Cork demonstration – which was attended by more than 700 people – as a major success, with only two arrests in the city centre and four further arrests across three other counties.
No major incidents were reported in Cork city centre after the rally concluded peacefully on Saturday, with no injuries and no damage to property.
Gardaí confirmed a total of six arrests were made – two in Cork city for public order and Health Act breaches as well as four between Kildare, Kerry and Cork county.
The four arrests in Kildare, Kerry and Cork county involved individuals who refused to comply with Garda directions.
The event was in stark contrast to the recent Dublin protest, which resulted in three gardaí being injured and dozens of arrests.
Organisers of the ‘Rally for Truth’ had repeatedly warned troublemakers they were not welcome at the St Patrick’s Street assembly – with gardaí even being formally welcomed to the event by one speaker.
The new Garda policing strategy was trialled in anticipation of further anti-lockdown demonstrations over the coming weeks.
It involved a large, visible presence of uniformed officers, demonstrators being restricted to a specific designated area, video recording of the entire event, identification of potential troublemakers or infiltrators via pre-demonstration intelligence, use of undercover officers at strate
gic locations for crowd monitoring, and reinforcements being available at key deployment hubs.
The Cork event also featured the Garda helicopter.
Gardaí will now study the video of the demonstration to determine what further action, if any, will result.
Cork People’s Convention (CPC) refused all requests for the demonstration to be cancelled, insisting it was a peaceful assembly and fully in accordance with provisions set out by the Constitution.
CPC organisers warned that anyone intent on causing trouble was not welcome at the event and urged respect for the gardaí and the city centre.
Organisers said they were threatened with arrest and fines, while numerous supporters were prevented from attending because of strategic Garda checkpoints.
Demonstrator placards stated: ‘Tell the Truth – Shame the Devil’, ‘End the Lockdown’ and ‘Freedom’.
The event was in stark contrast to the recent Dublin protest