More than one garda a day injured in assaults in 2024 despite rise in sentence
A total of 372 officers sustained injuries in assaults during 2024, while another 128 were injured on duty as a result of being attacked during the first six months of this year.
The pattern of aggression has continued despite the introduction of new legislation in November 2023, which increased the maximum sentence for assaulting or threatening gardaí from seven to 12 years.
Some 1,307 gardaí have sustained injuries as a result of being assaulted during the past three-and-a-half years, according to data published by Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan in response to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil TD Padraig O'Sullivan.
Numbers spiked to a record 470 in 2023 from 337 during the previous year, before falling by 20% to 372 last year. A further 128 assaults causing injury had been reported up to June 26 this year.
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'We are all immensely grateful to our gardaí for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the important role that they play in our society,' said Mr O'Callaghan.
'For the most part, the relationship between gardaí and the public is one built on very significant trust. An Garda Síochána is a largely unarmed, and yet hugely effective, policing service.
'An assault on a member of An Garda Síochána, a prison officer, a member of the fire brigade, ambulance personnel, or a member of the Defence Forces is an offence under Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.'
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Sir, – Three times over the past week I have watched news reports on women survivors of physical, sexual, emotional and psychological violence perpetrated by trusted males, some of them close family members. I heard sisters Paula Fay and Catherine Wrightstone describe the lifelong sentence of emotional pain, broken trust, and struggle to reclaim self-worth that their brother inflicted upon them. I heard Niamh Herbert talk about the feeling of giving a piece of herself away on every step of her path to justice. I heard Nikita Hand say that the legal case has retraumatised her over and over again. And I listened as each one of these brave women encouraged others who have experienced similar abuse to speak out, reminding them that they have strength within, that their voice matters and that justice can eventually prevail. READ MORE All this, as the horrific news about the killing of Vanessa Whyte and her two children unfolded over the week. At what stage do we call a halt to the head-shaking, the hand-wringing, the repeated expressions of shock and bewilderment and acknowledge the fact that Ireland is not a safe place to be female? Why are we not collectively howling from the rafters at the violence, the depravity, the pervasive level of threat that is endemic in our society today? How many more women must be traumatised, brutalised or even die, how many more candlelit vigils take place before we take educational and legislative steps to ensure that this stops now? To position ourselves in the world as a liberal democratic state, and to uphold the values of such, presumes a basic equity among citizens. Have we fallen at this first step? – Yours, etc, CAROLANNE HENRY, Churchtown, Dublin 14. Landlords and rental income Sir, – If the article written by Dr Lorcan Sirr was an essay for one of his own economic courses with the title 'What do landlords actually earn?' I think he'd get a D at best. It's a scattergun attack on landlords premised by the claim that we're all part of a secret club milking it. The only actual earnings quoted are general income which include the salary from a job or business. I'm one of the small landlords he's trying to vilify. Not having the luxury of a defined benefit pension from a taxpayer's funded job, the properties are my pension. When the ECB increased rates recently the repayments on one property increased from €1,200 a month to €1,650, while because of rent controls my rent was stuck at €1,100. And yes those figures are correct, a pre-2008 property. There are plenty of landlords who aren't creaming it. – Yours, etc, CHARLES McLAUGHLIN, Portobello, Dublin 8. Is Trump doing us a favour? Sir, – The Department of Finance feels that up to 70,000 fewer jobs will be created over the next five years as a result of the US tariffs as these tariffs will result in a reduction of economic activity of roughly 1.5 per cent (' US tariffs will mean 70,000 fewer jobs created in Irish economy, Department of Finance warns ,' August 1st). However, we have been informed that our economy is operating at full employment (full employment equates with 4 per cent unemployment), our population has increased by 20 per cent over the past five years resulting in an acute shortage of housing, huge waiting lists for medical treatment, a shortage of school places and lastly our infrastructure is incapable of catering for our expanding population. So perhaps Trump has come to our rescue after all? – Yours, etc, JO TRESTON, Blackrock, Co Dublin. Sir, – The report that Department of Finance officials warned that up to 70,000 fewer jobs will be created in the next five years due to US tariffs should not be a cause for concern. The solution can be found by copying the action of president Trump last Friday when the Bureau of Labour Statistics revealed higher unemployment numbers. He simply sacked the commissioner, to be replaced by someone who will alter the figures in his favour! – Yours, etc, GERARD CLARKE, Dundrum, Dublin. Policing the traffic and gardaí Sir, – Regarding 'S ome frontline gardaí expressed lack of interest in doing their jobs, review finds ,' (August, 1st). Yesterday, I was almost knocked to the ground by a passing scooter on the pedestrianised South King Street, close to Grafton Street. I then noticed the scooter turning left down Grafton Street. As I approached the top of Grafton Street, I noticed two gardaí on duty, observing the throngs of people down along Grafton Street. I brought the matter of the scooter to their attention. Yes, they had seen it go down Grafton Street, and further, scooters are going up and down the street all day. Surprised at this ready acceptance of this situation, there was more to follow; 'And we can't do anything about it,' they said. Startled by this, I reminded them that what they were observing was an act of law-breaking. I got the same answer about not being able to do anything to stop it. In frustration, I terminated the conversation, leaving them to continue their important job of observing the laws of the land being blatantly ignored in front of their eyes. – Yours, etc, EAMON O'FLYNN, Merrion Road, Dublin 4. Bargain cycling lanes Sir, – Rita O Brien (Letters, July 31st) claims that the ¤45 million spent on the Dundrum to Dún Laoghaire cycle lane is a bargain since the users will not be expected to pay a cent in road tax, insurance or licensing. By this reasoning, will all cyclists, pedestrians and EV drivers be exempt from any share in the massive fine coming our way due to massively exceeding our carbon budgets? – Yours, etc, COLETTE McNAMEE, Dublin 19. Sir, – Roads in Ireland are funded by the exchequer. Most taxes in the State are paid into the exchequer (income, VAT, etc). There is no 'road tax', although there is a 'motor tax' levied on most motorised vehicles. These funds also go to the exchequer. Since almost everyone pays some tax, everyone contributes to the cost of road construction (including cycle lanes) even if they don't drive or cycle. Introducing requirements such as motor tax, licensing, etc, for cyclists would dramatically reduce the rate of cycling, with the attendant negative effects on traffic congestion, public health, climate change, traffic congestion and so on. Whether or not the ¤45 million cost represents value for money is a different issue. – Yours, etc, CONALL DORAN, Co Sligo. Sir, – With reference to Rita O'Brien's letter, I wish to inform your correspondent that as a motorist I do not pay a cent in road tax. I do however pay motor tax, based on the CO2 emissions of my car, to offset the environmental impact of my car. As for insurance, that's paid to a private company that has nothing to do with the provision of transport infrastructure. Let's make cycling as difficult as possible to stop the indignity of motorists sitting in a traffic jam having to watch cyclists sail by. – Yours, etc, DECLAN RYAN, Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin 7. A generous offer Sir, –Frank McNally, Irishman's Diary (August 1st), writes about his annual jaunt to Ballybrit, bemoaning the lack of breakfast at his digs. I hereby offer him a bed with the full Irish for 2026 on condition he doesn't write about it! – Yours, etc, ANNE MARIE KENNEDY, Craughwell, Co Galway. Asylum and statistics Sir, – Nick Henderson of the Irish Refugee Council, in rebutting Senator Michael McDowell's suggestion that many asylum applicants are economic migrants, states that 'The data does not support this claim,' (Letters, July 31st). The only statistic he provides is that 60 per cent of asylum applications this year have been refused. He subjectively concludes that these were refused on technicalities such as insufficient paperwork, but that they were genuine asylum seekers. He then partly attributes blame for the IPA accommodation crisis to McDowell himself, as he did nothing about it during his five years as minister for justice. McDowell ceased in that role 18 years ago. I know we ideally want far-sighted politicians, but expecting clairvoyance is not realistic. – Yours, etc, DAVE SLATER, Kilkea, Co Kildare. Not so bonny photograph Sir, – I am in accord with Finn McRedmond's opinions in her Bonnie Blue article – apart perhaps from this being the best time to be alive (' Bonnie Blue: Why the free-sex 'content creator' is nauseating and wrong ,' July 31st) But why on earth is the article illustrated with a large, unavoidable and rather silly picture of Miss Blue? The Irish Times isn't social media and should avoid the 'Oh you are awful, tell me more' redtop vibe. Why publicise this person's image? Please, Irish Times remember your journalistic standards! – Yours, etc, MAIRIDE WOODS, Dublin 13. Filler thriller Sir, – I always smile when I turn over to the Letters page and see a smattering of short ones or 'fillers' as I like to call them. You just can't beat an eclectic and diverse mix of opinions. – Yours, etc, DEE DELANY, Raheny, Dublin 5. Germ supporter Sir, – Recent correspondence on our immune system and germs (Letters, July 31st and August 1st) reminded me of an expression often used by my late mother. When, as children, my brothers and I would often arrive home from an evening exploring in the fields or scrambling through the nearby woods stained from top to toe with soil and any other detritus that came our way and she would smile saying it was just 'clean dirt'. Looking back it's clear she knew the importance of beneficial bacteria and of building a robust immune system. Her philosophy has stood me in good stead to this day. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater in an obsessive desire to cleanse our environment of all germs, be they good or bad. – Yours, etc, PAT MULLEN, Kilkerley, Co Louth.
