Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 226: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide a report on the sequence of events surrounding the public disturbances in Finglas on 17 March 2008; when the public order unit was requested; when it arrived; and if he will seek an explanation from the Gardaí for the delay in view of the dangerous situation which developed. [13540/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am informed by the Garda authorities that during the morning of St Patrick's Day a number of calls relating to the same incident in the Finglas area were received by the Garda authorities. Immediate action was taken by the Garda authorities and two persons were arrested.

In the course of the day, further calls relating to public disorder and anti-social behaviour by groups of youths were received and responded to as they occurred by local District and Divisional Units, assisted by members of the Garda Air Support Unit and the Garda Dog Unit. The situation was continually monitored by local Garda management.

Following an assessment of the situation by officers at the scene and in consultation with the Divisional Officer, a decision was made to assemble the Public Order Unit in order to have it available if necessary. The Unit was subsequently deployed in the area and remained on duty until the early hours of Tuesday morning, 18 March. A total of 27 persons were arrested for public order related offences, including criminal damage and offences contrary to the Road Traffic Acts.

A full investigation is being conducted by the Garda authorities into all incidents which occurred in the area concerned on St Patrick's Day.

I am further informed that, in preparation for the St Patrick's Day Festival, the Garda authorities liaised with the relevant local authorities, residents' groups and licensees' representatives in developing a coordinated approach to policing during the festival period. Operational policing arrangements and the allocation of Garda resources are a matter for the Garda Commissioner.