Garda Public Order Unit

File:Mick nolan.jpg

A sergeant of the POU persuades a Shell to Sea protester to leave Lennon's quarry, Glencastle, November 2006. The protester, seen bleeding here, was later brought to hospital by ambulance

The Garda Public Order Unit is the unit within An Garda Síochána that deals with situations where public disorder may be encountered. i.e riots and protests.

This unit is trained to monitor and deal with events that could lead to violence using force and even violence if necessary. In 1995 the unit was called upon to deal with rioting supporters during a friendly football match between the Republic of Ireland & England in Lansdowne Road.[1] In 2006 the Public Order Unit was involved in the 2006 Dublin riots, and were deployed to deal with rioters in Dublin's city centre. Some members of the unit were injured during the riots, which lasted several hours.

The POU has been accused of using violently excessive force at Shell to Sea protests in County Mayo, beginning in October 2006. There had never previously been violence at any Shell to Sea protest, and some protesters were hospitalised.

In February 2007, members of the unit were deployed to a halting site belonging to the Traveller community in Cork after uniformed Gardaí were attacked there.

See also

Policing of the Corrib gas protests

External links

• Official site