‘We won’t rush into it’: New Garda Commissioner on arming frontline gardai with tasers

The new Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has confirmed he will give "careful consideration" to proposals to arm frontline gardai with tasers. 

However, the proposals has generated some division within former members of the force.

At his first press conference earlier this week, Commissioner Kelly discussed the potential expansion of the use of tasers beyond specialised units and prioritising "increased visibility" of members of the force. 

He said there would be a pilot scheme around such an expansion (of the use of tasers) and a "slow build-up" and that "we won't rush into it." 

He explained it would be "unlikely" that it would get to a point where every garda in the country will have a taser but that it is "really important that they have everything they need to protect themselves." 

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Commenting on the potential rollout of tasters, retired garda sergeant Christy Galligan said it is "good news" and that he believes tasers would make things safer for active members of the force. 

Commenting on Newstalk Breakfast, he said: "I believe they're not lethal weapons and I think that all members should have them, we've had 150 Gardaí since the start of this year who were assaulted - over 3,440 in the last 12 years." 

He continued: "These are men and women who go out every day to do their jobs in uniform to protect us and do a very difficult job at times - like a lot of frontline emergency workers." 

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Speaking on these statistics Galligan stated that he knows "what's it's like to be assaulted" while in active duty, explaining: "I've been assaulted many times and all I had, in the good old days, was an old wooden baton to protect myself." 

On the public's reaction to previous defence measures that came into effect to help protect frontline the retired sergeant said: "There was a lot of resistance when the extendable baton, pepper spray and even the stab vest came in. Now there's a little bit of resistance again [in reference to the tasers]." 

Meanwhile, former Assistant Commissioner for Dublin Dr Pat Leahy has spoken out against Kelly considering the introduction of tasers describing it as "just a step too far." 

He explained: "I do think the step into everybody using tasers is a step beyond what's necessary right now, I think it shows us as not being congruent with what we're seeing about ourselves as a community oriented police service."