Cootehill Garda wants more armed units along Border

Garda concerns over the sustainability of an unarmed force is due to rises in violence against gardai and cite the murder of Kilnaleck native Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe as changing attitudes among gardai.
The Garda Representatives Association (GRA) annual conference began this morning in Killarney with Cootehill’s Garda James Morrisroe to find out whether he would be successful in his bid to become GRA vice-president tomorrow.
Gardai fear that cut-backs are leaving them vulnerable and the Sligo native believes that to be the case especially along the Border and wants more armed units.
“The fact is that our work has become more dangerous because of how unpredictable and violent society has become and it is unacceptable that we have a chronic lack of armed units,” he told the Independent’s Paul Williams.
“In the border areas there is a huge need for armed units because of the number of armed criminal ganags operating on both sides.
“In Cavan/Monaghan our numbers have dropped by 22% and we cannot provide the public with the service it is entitled to.
“It has become a reactive police force as opposed to a proactive one,” he said.