Latest news with #SecurityandCommunitySafetyAct
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
FBI tipped off gardai to Carlow shooter's attempts to buy guns on dark web as fresh controlled delivery details emerge
GARDAI carried out a controlled delivery of firearms to Carlow gunman Evan Fitzgerald after being tipped off by the FBI about attempts to buy them on the dark web. Senior sources told the Irish Sun that Advertisement Fitzgerald He Labour's Alan Kelly this week raised questions over the 'proportionality' of the He asked if they could have looked at alternative interventions given Fitzgerald was not involved in organised crime and had 'some issues.' Advertisement READ MORE IN NEWS It followed a €2,700 payment being allegedly paid over for the acquisition of firearms and ammo. Controlled delivery is a common methodology used by police forces worldwide. It sees a handover of illicit items to a suspect, who has sought to get them, by an undercover police officer. Advertisement Most read in Irish News A senior source said: 'Gardai were correct to act in the initial case last year and act on information passed to them. 'Controlled delivery is a very common method used by police forces worldwide.' Man walked through Carlow shopping centre firing into air before being confronted by cops as crowds ran from scene In a statement on the matter, a spokesperson said: 'An Garda Siochana is precluded by law from commenting on protected disclosures. "An Garda Siochana does not comment on matters before the courts. Advertisement "In general and without commenting on any specific case, An Garda Siochana use a range of internationally recognised investigative techniques when tackling serious crimes such as the sale and supply of drugs and procuring of firearms, either of which could then be used to cause significant harm to the public. "One of these is controlled deliveries. In controlled deliveries if any material is used it is made safe by the law enforcement agency before being used, ie firearms are deactivated. 'ALLEGATIONS REFERRED' "Following these allegations being published by a national newspaper in May 2025, the Garda Commissioner referred these allegations to Fiosru for independent examination in line with the 'incidents of concern' provision in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, and relevant material was provided. "As stated by the Commissioner, Fiosru has informed An Garda Siochana that it would not be taking any further action on the matter. Advertisement "The individual involved was charged following independent evaluation of the Garda investigation by the Director of Public Prosecutions.' During Fitzgerald's first court appearance, gardai initially objected to his bail but then acceded to it under strict conditions which the accused had stuck to until the day of taking his own Another source explained that Fitzgerald did not have any criminal history, which made it difficult to prevent him from getting bail when charged last year. 'NUMBER OF FACTORS' This source added: 'There are a number of factors that the gardai could object under, such as being a flight risk, interference of witnesses or the risk of committing a serious offence while on bail or the seriousness of the alleged crimes. Advertisement 'But this all has to be backed up by examples and facts. "The fact is that this man had no criminal history whatsoever to back up any such concerns.' The Irish Sun last week revealed how cops probing Fitzgerald's death seized a USB stick found taped to his friend's bedroom window. They are now examining its contents in a bid to get answers behind his actions. Advertisement 1 Gardai were tipped off by the FBI after Carlow gunman Evan Fitzgerald tried to buy guns on the dark web Credit: GARDA
The Journal
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
No need for policing experience to apply as campaign begins to find new Garda Commissioner
THE CAMPAIGN TO hire the next Garda Commissioner has begun with a potential €314,000 wage packet and a candidate does not need to have any policing experience needed, the Minister for Justice has announced. Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan TD, said the Public Appointments Service had begun the competition to be the next head of An Garda Síochána – known as 'Number One' in the organisation. Candidates from outside of Ireland will be welcomed, a Public Jobs advert states , and there is no need for policing experience. The advert on public jobs states: 'Applications are welcomed from candidates of an appropriate calibre from policing, security or civilian backgrounds'. It also states that an honours degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline would be 'desirable'. O'Callaghan said it is the first recruitment campaign under the controversial new Policing, Security and Community Safety Act. 'The new Garda Commissioner will lead the organisation at a time of ongoing growth, change and reform as the organisation starts to operate under the provisions of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act which implemented the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. 'The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime. A strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. €2.48 billion for this year, a 27% increase since 2020, which is supporting the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff. 'I expect to be in a position to make a recommendation to the Government in late July,' he said. Advertisement Drew Harris, has agreed to extend his term of office to facilitate the competition to appoint his successor. His retirement was due to take effect before the competition was complete. The Minister consulted with the new Bord an Garda Síochána and the Policing and Community Safety Authority in developing the selection criteria and recruitment process for this competition. The new Commissioner will be appointed to a five-year term or until the retirement age of 62. The garda leader will lead a total workforce of nearly 18,000 people, comprising sworn Gardaí, Garda staff and Garda Reserves, the Department of Justice said. The successful candidate will have a wage packet which will be negotiable up to €314,512.00, 'subject to the individual's pension arrangements'. The mention of pensions is key because under pension-related tax regulations, most Garda top brass would face a very significant tax liability on retirement. This would increase significantly if they became Garda Commissioner and served a full term. It is understood that this liability for most senior officers would be in the region of half a million euros. it would increase to in excess of €1m if they became Commissioner. The issue has been identified in recent years and efforts to lobby the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform have fallen on deaf ears. The pension related exposure has its origin in rules under the Standard Fund Threshold (SFT). It is specific to large pensions that set a ceiling on what tax reliefs a person can obtain on pensions during their working life in public or private sectors. The problem has also been identified for senior department heads across Government. The issue already led to a protracted and repeat failure to hire a Deputy Commissioner – which was ultimately filled by Justin Kelly after a rerun of the campaign. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Extra.ie
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Garda oversight faced ‘unprecedented' lapse amid 'significant risk' warning
The Department of Justice only maintained Garda oversight during the new Policing Act's launch after the Policing Authority called ending it 'unprecedented, extraordinary and impolitic'. Last year, the government passed the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, which was to disband the Policing Authority (PA) and replace it with the Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA). The PA was the civilian oversight body for An Garda Síochána, and the PCSA would have the same responsibilities to monitor the force. Pic: Karl M Photography/Shutterstock However, the Act was not set to be commenced until after the election and the formation of a new government. The general election took place on November 29, and government formation talks had not concluded by the time Elaine Byrne, chair of the PA, wrote to the then Justice Minister Helen McEntee on December 12. Ms Byrne noted that the PSCA Act was not set to be commenced until March 1, 2025. However, she pointed out that the terms of the members of the PA were set to expire on December 31, 2024, before the new body was set to officially be established and continue to provide oversight of the gardaí. Ms Byrne wrote to Ms McEntee expressing her concerns at this gap emerging and said she had been informed that 'consideration was being given' to the PCSA operating in a 'shadow capacity' until the legislation was formally commenced. She wrote: 'I am gravely concerned by the option being considered to not extend the current [Policing] Authority members' terms. Elaine Byrne. Pic: Leah Farrell / © 'In essence, this ends the ability of the Authority to fulfil any of its statutory functions under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended).' Ms Byrne said this posed 'significant risks for the public accountability of Irish policing', adding: 'As a consequence of the proposed decision, there would be no independent, civilian oversight of the Garda Síochána for an undetermined period of time.' Ms Byrne said this was 'wholly unsatisfactory and unacceptable', adding: 'In my view, it is unprecedented, extraordinary and impolitic that a Minister for Justice would make a decision to end civilian oversight of the Garda Síochána for an undefined time. 'As you are aware, policing issues that significantly impact on public confidence can happen at any time. 'A decision not to continue with the Authority until the PCSA can be commenced would be a highly unusual and injudicious option to choose. It is fraught with risk and unnecessary in the context that there is an option to have continued oversight for a short period until such time as the Act is commenced.' Elaine Byrne. Pic: Leah Farrell / © She said the proposal to have the PCSA operate in a shadow capacity was 'not tenable'. Ms Byrne acknowledged the timing of the election had impacted on the department's plans, but said this was foreseeable. 'The drift of the commencement date across the course of 2024 has, disappointingly, rendered the current impasse almost inevitable,' she wrote. A Department of Justice spokesman said: 'At its meeting on December 19, 2024, the Government reappointed the chair and ordinary members of the Policing Authority for a period of no longer than six months, with effect from January 1, 2025. 'Minister McEntee wrote to the Authority members individually to confirm their reappointments thereafter. These appointments effectively ended on April 2, 2025, when [Justice] Minister [Jim] O'Callaghan commenced the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which provided for the establishment of An tÚdarás Póilíneachta agus Sábháilteachta Pobail [the PCSA] and the dissolution of the Policing Authority.'
