Armed Cops Opened Fire 17 Times Last Year

George death among incidents. Warning over risks gardai face

- Gordon Deegan

GARDAI fired their guns 17 times and used pepper spray on 907 occasions during the course of their work last year.

The figures from Justice Minister Helen McEntee also reveal 34 instances of officers deploying Tasers.

President of the Garda Representative Association Frank Thornton said: “The use of lethal and non-lethal force is closely scrutinised internally and externally.

“The GRA is proud of Ireland’s policing-by-consent model and would not want that to change, but crime in Ireland is becoming ever more violent so there needs to be a commensurate policing response.”