Justice Minister and Garda Commissioner 'should resign', says Mary Lou McDonald
A Garda car set on fire during riots in Dublin. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has expressed no confidence in the Justice Minister and Garda Commissioner, following riots in the city centre that led to “an unacceptable, unprecedented collapse in policing”.
Up to seven vehicles were set on fire during violence in the city that occurred in the wake of a knife attack on Thursday afternoon.
Some 34 people have been arrested after, with 32 being charged. They were due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning.
Ms McDonald joins Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon in expressing no confidence in Helen McEntee and Drew Harris.
Ms McDonald said that while rank-and-file gardaí have her support, she has lost the confidence of both Ms McEntee and Mr Harris in their roles.
“I do not say the following lightly, but it must be said. I have no confidence in how Dublin is being policed,” Ms McDonald said.
“The people of this city have the right to be safe on their streets, in their homes and in their communities.
In a statement, Ms McDonald said that the “cold truth” is that gardaí lost control of Dublin city centre, following tensions that erupted following the attack on three children and a woman in Parnell Square.
“A mob was allowed to shut down the centre of the city. Public transport locked down. People stranded in the city,” Ms McDonald said.
“Members of the public, families and workers terrified in what was a threatening and volatile atmosphere.
“This was an unacceptable, unprecedented collapse in policing.” She called for those who took part in rioting overnight to face “the full rigours of the law”.
Ms McDonald rejected recent assertions by Ms McEntee that Dublin city is safe, saying “people do not feel safe in Dublin City Centre”.
She described commentary that the riot had been unforeseeable as “nonsense”, citing previous “hate-filled mobs” threatening violence on streets in the city previously.
“This shouldn’t have happened and – let me be very clear – it can never happen again,” Ms McDonald said.
“The people of Dublin need to know that those in charge of government and the head of An Garda Síochána are capable of ensuring that it never happens again.”
She added: "They should resign, both of them."
She said she had spoken to Ms McEntee and Mr Harris about the situation yesterday.
Speaking earlier, Mr Gannon said: “In relation to the riot, the scenes that we saw last night, I can’t step away from the fact that this is a grotesque failure both politically and at the highest echelons of An Garda Síochána.”
“I can't step away from the fact that Commissioner Drew Harris has for the last 18 months downplayed the threat of the far right and the increase in violence that they brought on.”
Mr Gannon said that there has been an “absence of leadership” from both Mr Harris and Ms McEntee, while also blaming the situation on a lack of planning, insufficient resources, and training.
“This level of wanton thuggery and criminality needs a far stronger policing response — not the kid-glove approach adopted on this Commissioner’s watch,” Mr Gannon said.
“The fact I don’t have confidence stems not just from the scenes last night, but from the fact that for 18 months, he’s enabled this situation where we’ve had a policy of appeasement towards the far right.”
Mr Gannon added that Ms McEntee’s only response to previous far-right protests outside Leinster House was to increase Garda overtime, describing this as a “short-term sticking plaster”.
“It is little over two months since rank-and-file gardaí in the GRA overwhelmingly voted no confidence in the Commissioner. Thursday’s shameful events show that this lack of confidence was not misplaced,” Mr Gannon said.
“Last night’s catastrophic policing failure must be a watershed moment in how the State responds to future security threats. I have lost all confidence in Drew Harris’ ability to do that.
“The Minister must now explain why, given the violent mayhem in Dublin last night, she should remain in her role — and she must come into the Dáil at the earliest opportunity and do that.”
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