Sunday Tribune article - armed gardai

Rovi

Don't know if you've all seen this-


Interesting take on our 'unarmed' police.
4000 firearms cards issued, I wonder how many are used?

"(Jim) O'Keeffe has also raised concerns about the training received by armed gardai."
Anyone know what sort of training regular detectives get (I'm assuming the ERU are more specialised)?
I've heard some horror stories of people practically having to take cover when the local plain-clothes lads turn out for a bit of practice before re-qualification, but we all know what 'stories' are like by the time they've gone through a few tellings. :rolleyes:

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Sparks

In fairness, it's the Tribune. Their past record with accuracy in firearms-related stories is pretty poor at best.

Riggser

The ERU (Every Round Used) is nearly as mythical as the Army Ranger Wing, until recently that is as the Ranger Wing have published their entry requirements and tests.

Does anyone have any information on the ERU, their entry requirements and training?

TomBeckett

The (ERU) ha!:)
They do make me laugh:D
Ive seen them with there pea shooters and there little red bibs ive seen a far better trained bunch of lads playing paintball.

Vegeta

Riggser wrote:

The ERU (Every Round Used) is nearly as mythical as the Army Ranger Wing, until recently that is as the Ranger Wing have published their entry requirements and tests.

Does anyone have any information on the ERU, their entry requirements and training?

Yeah was thinking about applying myself there a while back, so if anyone knows requirements or whatever give me a shout

civdef

The process goes along the lines of join the guards, serve some years, then apply to ERU.

TomBeckett. those red bibs are a thing of the past for the ERU.

Clare gunner

Not up to last year in Limerick they weren't Civ.The whole court building was protected by "red bibs."During the Ryan/Keane trials.

Training...hmmm...well fire disipline and identifying your target,isnt too big on the agenda obvisouly.Considering that two years ago they managed to shoot one of their own in a bank raid hldup.Not to mind Athy 18 years ago ,wher,some of their own,criminals and civvies got shot.

civdef

Red bibs doesn't necessarily mean ERU - can be any armed Garda. Look at the coverage of some recent ERU incidents to see their current style.

The tragic incident in Abbeyleix wasn't as simple as you make out, several complicating factors were involved.

Athy was a long time ago, things have moved on.

scout

not impressed with the red bibs down in cork they had one on a road block with their UZI thing finger on trigger no muzzel control wavin people on

Riggser

Clare gunner wrote:

Considering that two years ago they managed to shoot one of their own in a bank raid holdup.Not to mind Athy 18 years ago ,wher,some of their own,criminals and civvies got shot.

The front of the post office in Lusk, where one of the raiders were shot dead by the ERU last year, was riddled with bullet holes.

Abbeylara was a sad event as it ended in lethal force. But I wasn't there so I wouldn't have a valid opinion on that situation.

I can imagine how you get into the ERU.

1.Join Gardai
2.Kiss ass
3.Get to know people in high ranking positions
4.Kiss ass
5.Apply for ERU, if application is rejected revert to step 4.

If I'm wrong please let me know.

Clare gunner

[

QUOTE=civdef]Red bibs doesn't necessarily mean ERU - can be any armed Garda. Look at the coverage of some recent ERU incidents to see their current style.

Was pointed out to me by a Garda that I knew who was on duty that day as ERU.
Current style.Black Izuzu troopers or pajeros,with blacked out windows,late D regs with three antennas on them,no insurance discs or garage adverts???
Look for overbearingly arrogant SOBs dressed like the SAS sabre squradron.All gear ,no idea.
Sound right?

The tragic incident in Abbeyleix wasn't as simple as you make out, several complicating factors were involved.

It's called the eight Ps Prudent Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.The plan from what the "mere public" was informed about was a disaster waiting to happen.Radio comms was a mess,fire disipline went out the door,no contingency plan,no paramedic on the team to deal with gunshot injuries.all in all a mess.Complicating factors should be included in any plan,with plenty of "what if"""...thinking.One other thing I have to mention from meeting some of the ERU and Ranger wing,in a professional capacity is an overbearing arrogance of these people.Know everything,and cant be told anything,which usually means they will fu$k up pretty quickly.Any elite soilder or cop will shut up and listen to even the most basic details of any operation.

I could mention an incident in a hotel in Clare involving the ERU,the Tainiste,the Areminian ambassador,a PD convention,and the quantity of booze consumed by the on duty ERU,and who ended up looking after the VIPS as "mere civillians" and what I was told by one ERU man regarding helping myself to his S&W if anything went wrong.But I wont as I would only embarrass some top brass and politicans.

Athy was a long time ago, things have moved on

]

Has it?The same BS still applies.Never forget the pic of some SB goon kicking in the bank door with a crowd of top brass wanting to be first in the door.Wonder what would have been the excuse if one of those criminals had rigged a shotgun to cover the front door or rigged a hand grenade?
We could also mention Abbylara,and how the mighty ERU sneaked up to the house where a disturbed man was asleep with a double barrel shotgun and the kevlar clad HK toters couldnt take him down alive at 0300 hrs?? Cmon!!!

Sorry INMHO the term "elite" is not deserved by this unit.

civdef

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scout

civdef wrote:

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on no i see chip on your shoulder

Riggser

ERU only go for the cheapest of tactical gear these days. But as you can see the Garda member on the left is brought to his knees in amazement at the array of firearms.

Clare gunner

civdef wrote:

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Oh well...reality bites hard.