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===Weapons and equipment===
===Weapons and equipment===
The Garda ERU is a member of the [[Atlas Network]], an organisation consisting of [[European Union]] (EU) [[special police]] units, who share best practice and establish protocol concerning tactics, equipment and weapons.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ferry|first=Declan|title=Garda crack squad that will protect Obama|url=http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/crime/photos-show-gardai-who-provide-1837559|accessdate=3 May 2014|newspaper=IrishMirror.ie|date=17 April 2013}}</ref> While the ERU [[Armory (military)|armoury]] includes dozens of firearms, the standard issue pistol is the self-loading 9mm [[SIG Sauer P226]], which officers carry on and off duty. Tactical teams carry rifles, depending on the operation, the most common being the [[Heckler & Koch MP7]] submachine gun. [[Taser]]s are also carried as standard by tactical teams. In addition to firearms, ERU operators carry routine police equipment such as a [[knife]], [[ASP, Inc.|ASP baton]], [[pepper spray]], [[flashlight]] and [[handcuffs]]. [[First aid kit]]s, [[firefighting]] equipment and [[respirator]]s are commonly carried. [[Personal protective equipment|Protective clothing]] for tactical teams includes [[Personal armor|ballistic armour]] for the head, neck, torso and limbs (including [[bulletproof vest]], [[combat helmet]] and [[ballistic eye wear]]), [[fire-retardant fabric]] and [[combat boot]]s. Other equipment used includes a [[ballistic shield]], [[door breaching|breaching apparatus]] (including explosives for dynamic entry), [[audiovisual]] equipment (including [[night vision]] equipment) and secure communications ([[Terrestrial Trunked Radio|TETRA]]-encrypted devices). The ERU has a pool of [[Police car#Unmarked car|unmarked police vehicles]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Motors Feature: The Garda Regional Support Unit|url=http://collegetribune.ie/index.php/2010/11/motors-feature-the-garda-regional-supports-unit/|work=8 November 2010|publisher=College Tribune|accessdate=2 May 2014}}</ref> some of which are modified high-performance vehicles, including [[Armored car (VIP)|armoured vehicles]], [[Command and control|command and control vehicles]] and [[SWAT#Vehicles|tactical assault vehicles]]. The ERU trains with other Garda units in the utilisation of helicopters and [[rigid-hulled inflatable boat]]s (RIB), and has access to these when required.
The Garda ERU is a member of the [[Atlas Network]], an organisation consisting of [[European Union]] (EU) [[special police]] units, who share best practice and establish protocol concerning tactics, equipment and weapons.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ferry|first=Declan|title=Garda crack squad that will protect Obama|url=http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/crime/photos-show-gardai-who-provide-1837559|accessdate=3 May 2014|newspaper=IrishMirror.ie|date=17 April 2013}}</ref> While the ERU [[Armory (military)|armoury]] includes dozens of firearms, the standard issue pistol is the self-loading 9mm [[SIG Sauer P226]], which officers carry on and off duty. Tactical teams carry rifles, depending on the operation, the most common being the [[Heckler & Koch MP7]] submachine gun. [[Taser]]s are also carried as standard by tactical teams. In addition to firearms, ERU operators carry routine police equipment such as a [[knife]], [[ASP, Inc.|ASP baton]], [[pepper spray]], [[flashlight]] and [[handcuffs]]. [[First aid kit]]s, [[firefighting]] equipment and [[respirator]]s are commonly carried. [[Personal protective equipment|Protective clothing]] for tactical teams includes [[Personal armor|ballistic armour]] for the head, neck, torso and limbs (including [[bulletproof vest]], [[combat helmet]] and [[ballistic eye wear]]), [[fire-retardant fabric]] and [[combat boot]]s. Other equipment used includes a [[ballistic shield]], [[door breaching|breaching apparatus]] (including explosives for dynamic entry), [[audiovisual]] equipment (including [[night vision]] equipment) and secure communications ([[Terrestrial Trunked Radio|TETRA]]-encrypted devices). The ERU has a pool of [[Police car#Unmarked car|unmarked police vehicles]], some of which are modified high-performance vehicles, including [[Armored car (VIP)|armoured vehicles]], [[Command and control|command and control vehicles]] and [[SWAT#Vehicles|tactical assault vehicles]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Motors Feature: The Garda Regional Support Unit|url=http://collegetribune.ie/index.php/2010/11/motors-feature-the-garda-regional-supports-unit/|work=8 November 2010|publisher=College Tribune|accessdate=2 May 2014}}</ref> The ERU trains with other Garda units in the utilisation of helicopters and [[rigid-hulled inflatable boat]]s (RIB), and has access to these when required.


===Deployment procedure===
===Deployment procedure===

Revision as of 22:08, 4 May 2014

Garda Emergency Response Unit
File:Garda ERU patch.jpg
Official patch of the Garda ERU
Active1978–present
Country Ireland
BranchGarda Síochána
TypeSpecial Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)
RoleFirearms & tactical response
Domestic anti-terrorism
Hostage rescue
Hostage negotiation
VIP protection
Size~ 100 operators[1]
Part ofSpecial Detective Unit
Crime & Security Branch
Garrison/HQHarcourt Street, Dublin (D2)
53°20′03.5″N 6°15′50.3″W / 53.334306°N 6.263972°W / 53.334306; -6.263972
Garda Síochána Emergency Response Unit (ERU) tactical team disembarking from a helicopter
Garda ERU conducting anti-terror maritime operations on the River Liffey, Dublin

The Emergency Response Unit (ERU) (Irish: Aonad Práinnfhreagartha) is the premier armed tactical operations unit of the Garda Síochána, the national police force of Ireland. The Garda ERU is a section of the forces' Special Detective Unit (SDU), under the Crime & Security Branch (CSB).[2] The unit provides the highest tier of firearms response to Irish law enforcement, specialising in weapons tactics, counter-terrorism, execution of high-risk missions, crisis negotiation, hostage rescue and close protection, among other roles. The ERU was formed in 1978 as the "Special Task Force" to assist ordinary members of the force in extraordinary situations. The ERU regularly trains with the Irish Army Ranger Wing (ARW), sharing facilities and equipment.[3]

Roles

The Emergency Response Unit is responsible for handling the following operations in service of the Garda Síochána;[4][5]

In addition to these roles, the Garda ERU has airborne capabilities (helicopters) provided by the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU) and Irish Air Corps when required,[6] seaborne capabilities provided by the Garda Water Support Unit when needed,[7] dog handlers (working with the Garda Dog Support Unit),[8] sniper teams,[1] paramedics,[9] hostage negotiators and psychologists.[10]

History

The unit was formed as the "Special Task Force" (STF) in 1978, following decisions made at meetings of the European Economic Community (EEC) in Brussels, Belgium and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Helsinki, Finland, in 1975.[4] The Special Task Force was based out of Harcourt Street, Dublin (where it is still headquartered today), under the umbrella of the Garda Special Branch (now Special Detective Unit). Many of the unit's first challenges were in combating the increasing threat of the Provisional IRA paramilitary group during The Troubles. The unit was renamed the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) in 1987 to better reflect its role.[5] More recently, the ERU has been deployed to trouble spots in Dublin City and Limerick City in a combined Garda effort to tackle gun violence, resulting in a decline of firearms offences related to organised crime.[11][12][13] Regular uniformed Gardaí (police officers) in Ireland are unarmed.

Modus operandi

Membership of the Emergency Response Unit consists exclusively of serving officers in the Garda Síochána. It is understood to have circa 100 full-time officers on active duty.[1] The head of the ERU is of Detective Chief Superintendent rank. By extension, ERU members are part of the Special Detective Unit, but most are generally not detectives and have little investigative duties. The identity of the unit's officers is highly sensitive, and when giving evidence in court, they are not named, appear behind a curtain and may have their voice altered. The ERU includes a number of trained specialists, such as advanced drivers, marksmen, spotters, intelligence officers, communications technicians, close protection officers, weapons instructors, bomb disposal (explosives) experts, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear experts, sky marshals, dog handlers and medics.[14] All ERU operators are trained in handling semi-automatic pistols, shotguns, submachine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles and less lethal weapons. Shifts are up to 12 hours, with a minimum of 8 hours break between shifts, and many officers work 6 days a week. Pay, apart from overtime and expenses incurred, is no different to uniformed Gardaí of the same rank. A number of tactical teams are on duty at any one time, with usually at least one in training or carrying out exercises. ERU operators are distinguished by their black tactical uniforms with "GARDA" and "POLICE" emblazoned in yellow across their chest and back. However, approximately 80% of ERU operations are carried out in plainclothes.[5]

Recruitment and training

Training is carried out at the Garda Tactical Training Unit, established in 1983 under the authority of the Garda Síochána College in Templemore, County Tipperary. The Army Ranger Wing "Tactical Town" or "Tac Town" in the Curragh Camp, County Kildare is also routinely used by the ERU, and operators receive further specialised training at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy in Quantico, Virginia in the United States.[15] An officer's journey into the ranks of the ERU begins with a notorious two-week initiation dubbed "hell week", where candidates are both physically and mentally assessed. Examinations include tasks to be completed within a set amount of time both on land and in water. Failure during the selection process is extremely high (95%), but those that complete the tests successfully are then put through a number of more specific, rigorous exercises, where their suitability for the unit is determined.[16] Aspiring ERU officers must have at least 4 years experience as a uniformed Garda before attempting to join the unit.[6] The unit is admittedly male dominated, but there are understood to be a number of woman who have worked and work in the ERU.[17]

ERU officers are required to qualify three times per year in all firearms being used by the unit, complete regular fitness tests and psychological examinations. Failure to pass these assessments may mean expulsion from operational duties for a certain period. ERU officers are also subject to stringent background checks by the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU). As part of their training, each member of the squad is made to sample the impact of their own non-lethal weapons, including being subdued by a Taser and must perform tasks after being hit with pepper spray. All ERU operators are trained in advanced police driving, hand-to-hand combat (unarmed), close quarters combat (CQC) with and without the use of weaponry, climbing, abseiling and first aid. Members of the ERU train regularly alongside Regional Support Units (RSU), Army Ranger Wing and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams in Ireland, and internationally with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Special Operations Branch (SOB) and Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Specialist Firearms Command (SCO19) in the United Kingdom, and FBI Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) in the US, as well as similar organisations in France and Germany.[18] The unit also conducts large scale scenario-based exercises each year with multiple other Garda units. Following the 2011 Norway attacks, officers from the Norwegian Police Service tactical intervention team - also known as the Emergency Response Unit - came to Ireland to receive training from the Garda ERU, showing how highly the unit are regarded internationally.[19]

Weapons and equipment

The Garda ERU is a member of the Atlas Network, an organisation consisting of European Union (EU) special police units, who share best practice and establish protocol concerning tactics, equipment and weapons.[20] While the ERU armoury includes dozens of firearms, the standard issue pistol is the self-loading 9mm SIG Sauer P226, which officers carry on and off duty. Tactical teams carry rifles, depending on the operation, the most common being the Heckler & Koch MP7 submachine gun. Tasers are also carried as standard by tactical teams. In addition to firearms, ERU operators carry routine police equipment such as a knife, ASP baton, pepper spray, flashlight and handcuffs. First aid kits, firefighting equipment and respirators are commonly carried. Protective clothing for tactical teams includes ballistic armour for the head, neck, torso and limbs (including bulletproof vest, combat helmet and ballistic eye wear), fire-retardant fabric and combat boots. Other equipment used includes a ballistic shield, breaching apparatus (including explosives for dynamic entry), audiovisual equipment (including night vision equipment) and secure communications (TETRA-encrypted devices). The ERU has a pool of unmarked police vehicles, some of which are modified high-performance vehicles, including armoured vehicles, command and control vehicles and tactical assault vehicles.[21] The ERU trains with other Garda units in the utilisation of helicopters and rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RIB), and has access to these when required.

Deployment procedure

In order for the Emergency Response Unit to be deployed in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR), a request must be made by the Divisional Officer to the Detective Chief Superintendent of the Special Detective Unit or the Assistant Commissioner in charge of the Crime & Security Branch. For operations in the other five Garda regions (Eastern, Northern, Southern, South-Eastern and Western), the Divisional Officer would make the request to the appropriate Assistant Commissioner of that region. Outside of Dublin, the relevant Regional Support Unit (RSU) is usually deployed first, and may then request support from the ERU.[4] The ERU aims to respond to any incident within the mainland of the Republic of Ireland within 45 minutes of being dispatched, and within an hour outside of this (islands, watercraft, oil platforms at sea, etc.), this may be achieved through the use of vehicles, watercraft or aircraft.[6] In the year of 2012, the ERU was called out to more than 200 firearms-related incidents, and carried out over 100 successful VIP bodyguard missions.[16]

Notable incidents

Operations conducted by the Garda Emergency Response Unit have resulted in the deaths of five people since 1998, including one accidentally.

  • In May 1998, armed Gardaí attached to the Emergency Response Unit shot dead a member of the Provisional IRA terrorist organisation, during an attempted robbery of a cash-in-transit van (carrying £300,000 Irish pounds/€380,000 Euro in 2014) in Ashford, County Wicklow.[22] The gang of six had been under surveillance by a number of Garda units, including the National Surveillance Unit (NSU) and Special Detective Unit at the time. The armed raiders posed as county council workmen before blocking the road to stop the bank van. The gang was armed with an assault rifle, pump-action shotgun, revolver, imitation rocket launcher and an angle grinder. The ERU moved in and foiled the robbery, 28-year-old Ronan McLoughlin was fatally shot by heavily armed ERU officers as he attempted to flee in a vehicle. 10 shots were fired by Gardaí, who had 25 firearms on scene. Nobody else was shot. Five gang members were arrested and later found guilty of terrorism offences.[23]
  • In April 2000, the ERU was brought into the public spotlight after killing a 27-year-old man with a known mental disorder, following a 25-hour barricaded siege in Abbeylara, County Longford. John Carthy fired up to 7 shots from a legally held double-barreled shotgun, both at unarmed and armed Gardaí after a dispute with his family (he held no hostages). An ERU tactical team arrived from Dublin and took charge of the incident and attempted to negotiate with Carthy, but he repelled their attempts. After 25 hours, he exited his house through the front door with a loaded shotgun in his hands. He was repeatedly ordered at gunpoint to drop his weapon, but refused, and advanced towards the perimeter. Upon exiting his premises and walking towards the local town, he was fatally shot four times by two ERU marksmen (who fired two shots each). No-one else sustained injuries, although a police car was damaged by Carthy. The resulting Barr Tribunal was critical of the Gardaí, suggesting Carthy's life could have been preserved, however it found that the ERU team had acted within the law. The incident brought a number of changes in procedures when dealing with barricade incidents.[24]
  • In December 2001, Detective Sergeant John Eiffe - aged 40 - of the National Surveillance Unit lost his life in tragic circumstances after he was hit from a bullet ricochet fired by a colleague from the Emergency Response Unit during an operation to arrest four armed bank robbers in Abbeyleix, County Laois. The four men had been under surveillance by NSU detectives, and when they attempted to rob a bank, the NSU and ERU intervened. One of the men attempted to flee using his vehicle, and the sound of a tyre bursting led officers at the scene to believe they were being fired on by the armed robbers, causing them to open fire.[25] It later transpired that although the criminals had been carrying firearms, they had not discharge them. Gardaí discharged all 3 shots. Another officer was also injured in the incident, but recovered.[26]
  • In May 2005, ERU officers fatally shot two criminal raiders in Lusk, County Dublin during a pre-planned operation to foil an armed robbery of a post office. Colm Griffin (33) and Eric Hopkins (24) were both shot dead by a team of undercover detectives from the ERU, acting on intelligence that a four man gang were going to raid the post office at gunpoint. Griffin was carrying a loaded pistol, which was not fired, and Hopkins a sledgehammer. Plain clothes officers, armed with concealed 9mm semi-automatic pistols, were lying in wait for the gang. When two gang members entered the post office and threatened staff and customers with weapons, the ERU officers pointed their guns at the pair and ordered them to drop their weapons. They did not, and both were fatally shot in the head at close range. Three shots were fired in total, all by Gardaí. Two other gang members were apprehended without incident. No one else sustained injuries.[27] The operation was widely praised by the public and politicians, and saw a marked decrease in violent crime for a number of months in the aftermath. There was suspicion the raid was ordered as a fundraising attempt for dissident republicans.[28]

List of equipment

Firearms

Pistols
Assault Rifles
Sniper Rifles
Shotguns
Less Lethal

Vehicles

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Emergency Response Unit show terrorists what they're facing in June". Daily Star. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  2. ^ "The Crime & Security Branch". Garda Síochána. 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Leroy Thompson (1 March 2013). "Ireland's Army Rangers, Page 2". Tactical Life. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "Emergency Response Unit (E.R.U.)". Retrieved 4 May 2009.
  5. ^ a b c "Rank and Structure in the Garda Síochána and the Role of the Emergency Response Unit". Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  6. ^ a b c "On patrol with the Garda's elite unit". The Evening Herald. 6 April 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  7. ^ O'Carroll, Sinead. "Gardaí participate in counter-terrorism exercise". 16 April 2013. TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  8. ^ "Special armed gardai were ready to storm house in siege". Irish Daily Star. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  9. ^ Lally, Conor (5 December 2013). "Man in armed stand-off with gardaí dies of gunshot wound". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  10. ^ Bryne, Cormac (9 September 2010). "Training Day: A knife, hostages and a crack ERU team on the case". The Herald (Ireland). Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  11. ^ Woulfe, Jimmy (28 March 2008). "Gang crime forces ERU back into Limerick". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  12. ^ "Emergency Response Unit – 4 Limerick arrests". 26 May 2010. Irish Digest. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  13. ^ Hurley, David (16 April 2013). "Firearms offences in Limerick fall by 92%". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  14. ^ O'Brien, Stephen (8 February 2004). "Brennan to reject US air marshal bid". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  15. ^ "Irish Army Ranger Wing". 15 December 2013. Special Ops Magazine. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  16. ^ a b Brady, Tom (17 April 2013). "ERU on alert for G8 terrorist threat". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  17. ^ "Community in shock following sad death of young mum and detective Jayne Cahill". The Argus. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  18. ^ Breen, Stephen (17 April 2013). "We've SWAT what it takes". The Irish Sun. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  19. ^ "'Garda ERU will help us stop the next Anders Breivik'". Irish Daily Star. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  20. ^ Ferry, Declan (17 April 2013). "Garda crack squad that will protect Obama". IrishMirror.ie. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  21. ^ "Motors Feature: The Garda Regional Support Unit". 8 November 2010. College Tribune. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  22. ^ Rae, Stephen (24 November 2012). "Terrorist killed in Blue Flu shootout". Irish Independent. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  23. ^ "28-year-old man shot dead during PIRA heist in Ashford". The Wicklow People. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  24. ^ "A review of practices and procedures for barricade incidents | Garda Síochána Inspectorate" (PDF). 2006. Garda Síochána Inspectorate. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  25. ^ Guerin, Jimmy (24 November 2012). "The tragic day a young Garda died". Independent.ie. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  26. ^ Felle, Tom (8 May 2007). "Inquest into garda death at bank raid delayed due to appeals". Irish Independent. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  27. ^ O’Halloran, Georgina (4 October 2007). "Lusk inquest: Garda who shot unarmed raider acted in self-defence". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  28. ^ Corcoran, Jody (24 November 2012). "SF/IRA had hired slain Lusk gunman". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  29. ^ "The Aftermath – Post-Mortem, Forensic and Ballistic Examination". Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  30. ^ a b c d e "Unofficial ERU Weapons Page". 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  31. ^ "The exit of John Carthy from the house". Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  32. ^ "ERU authorised to use TASER type devices". Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. 3 April 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  33. ^ a b c "Garda Use of Less Lethal Weapons". Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. 20 July 2006. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  34. ^ "Less-Lethal Weapons". Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
  35. ^ "Gardaí using armour-plated cars seized from criminals". Breaking News. 26 October 2010. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.

External links

53°20′03.5″N 6°15′50.3″W / 53.334306°N 6.263972°W / 53.334306; -6.263972

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