Emergency Response Unit (Garda)

The Emergency Response Unit (Irish: "Aonad Práinnfhreagartha") (ERU) of An Garda Síochána (the Irish police force) is a specialist armed intervention unit [http://www.garda.ie/sdu.html Garda website, SDU page] Defining Emergency Response Unit as "specialist armed intervention unit"] , formed to deal with situations that cannot be handled by regular Garda officers.

Origins

The ERU was formed as the Special Task Force in 1978, following a decision of Justice Ministers at the Ninth Council of the EEC at Brussels in 1975. The Special Task Force was based in Dublin and it formed part of the Special Detective Unit in Harcourt Street. This unit was renamed the Emergency Response Unit in 1987. [http://www.mulley.net/BarrTribunalReport/BarrTribunalReportChapter10.html Barr Tribunal Report] - Chapter 10 - Rank, structure, and role of the Emergency Response Unit]

Its duties include armed support during criminal/subversive operations and specialist search techniques including forced entry. Most recently the ERU has been deployed to trouble spots in Dublin and Limerick to tackle gun crime. One incident in the latter half of 2006 involved an ERU team pursuing armed suspects in Limerick after a shooting incident in the city. The ERU stopped and arrested the suspects after a chase which the media reported reached speeds of 240km/h near the village of Croom. [cite news|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2006/11/07/story17695.asp|title=Limerick’s gang leaders recruit children for killing missions|date=November 7, 2006|work=Irish Examiner|accessdate=2008-07-21]

The membership of the ERU consists exclusively of serving members of An Garda Síochána. It undergoes intensive training including proficiency in firearms, tactics, specialist skills, physical fitness and hostage rescue. The ERU consists of 50 members as of October 2004. [cite news|url=http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2004/1020/1097847304618.html|title=Plan to have fewer armed Gardaí|last=Lally|first=Conor|date=October 20, 2004|work=Irish Times|accessdate=2006-11-26]

Training of the ERU is carried out in the Garda's Tactical Training Unit, established in 1983 under the authority of the Garda college, Templemore. [ [http://www.garda.ie/angarda/col/specialist.html Garda recruitment] (accessed 26 November 2007)] Members of the ERU have received training with the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team.

Controversy

The Barr Tribunal's investigation into the shooting of John Carthy in Abbeylara in 2000 brought the ERU's existence and role to public attention in recent years, and individual ERU members were criticised in the tribunal's report on the incident.Fact|date=November 2007

Equipment

The ERU use similar equipment to comparable tactical police units, such as an American SWAT team or Australian Police Tactical Group. This includes:
* Ballistic shieldsFact|date=December 2007
* Ballistic helmets and vests
* Diversionary devices (Stun Grenades etc.)

Weapons

Primary

* Remington 870, fitted with Reflex sights
* Uzi submachine gun [http://www.mulley.net/BarrTribunalReport/BarrTribunalReportChapter7.html Barr Tribunal Report Chapter 7] (URL accessed 2007/12/04)]
* Heckler & Koch MP7 (to replace the UZI 9 mm)
* Steyr SSG 69
* Heckler & Koch G3KA4
* Heckler & Koch 33 [http://www.barrtribunal.ie/OpenStatement.html Barr Tribunal Opening Statement of Counsel] (URL accessed 2007/12/05)]

Secondary

* Smith & Wesson 10 revolver
* Smith & Wesson Model 59 [ [http://www.irlgov.ie/committees-00/c-justice/Reports/abbeylara/page1.htm Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defense and Women's Rights] ]
* Sig Sauer P226

Less Lethal

* Bean bag shot [http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PR07000911 Garda Use of Less Lethal Weapons] Department of Justice (URL accessed 2007/11/26)]
* Pepper spray device
* Ferret Pepper spray shot [ [http://www.bellum.nu/armoury/Ferretround.html Ferret round information] (URL accessed 2007/11/26)]
* TASER stun gun [ [http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PR07000210 ERU authorised to use TASER type devices] - Department of Justice (URL accessed 2007/11/26)]

References

See also

* Garda Síochána
* John Carthy
* Emergency management
* Irish Army Rangers

External links

* [http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/motors/2007/0718/1184196658216.html Doyle, Killian Top guns The Irish Times, 18 July 2007 (accessed 26 November 2007)]