A member of the armed support unit holding a taser gun. Alamy Stock Photo
taser pilot
An Garda Síochána said that since December, tasers have been used 15 times, and no serious injuries were received by the subjects or gardaí.
AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA is to extend its taser pilot for six months until the end of 2026 and expand it to Limerick.
In December, gardaí launched a pilot in stations Store Street, Pearse Street, and Kevin Street in Dublin, and Waterford , with 167 gardaí successfully completing their training and being provided with tasers.
The Conductive Energy Devices, also known as the brand name ‘taser’, works by releasing an electric charge to incapacitate a person.
In a statement today, An Garda Síochána said the devices “have proven to be successful at de-escalating volatile and violent incidents”.
Since December, tasers have been used 15 times, and no serious injuries were received by the subjects or gardaí.
Of the 15 uses, there were three discharges, five instances of drawing and arming, and seven where the subject had the taser’s laser pointed at them by gardaí. All three taser discharges were referred to the police ombudsman Fiosrú.
In six of the 15 incidents, a weapon was produced by the subject.
A spokesperson for the force said that arrests and charges came in seven of the cases, while in one case, the subject fled and was not apprehended, and in three cases the person was detained and assessed under Section 12 of the Mental Health Act 2001.
They said “one further subject was brought to hospital for an issue not related to the use of garda force”.
One occasion a taser was drawn related to a domestic violence incident at a residential address, where a woman and her child reported they had been assaulted by a former male partner.
Gardaí said that the suspect became “extremely aggressive” towards gardaí when approached, but the situation de-escalated with force or injury when a garda drew their taser from the holster. The suspect was then arrested, detained and charged.
Speaking today, Deputy Commissioner, Paul Cleary said, one of the “key measures of success” during this pilot is to de-escalate and to avoid harm, not the number of times a device is discharged.
He said harm to the person arrested has “likely been avoided as the drawing, aiming and laser painting has meant that other uses of force such as baton did not need to be used”.
All gardaí with tasers have undergone a comprehensive three-day taser training course, and tasers are only deployed where gardaí are using body cams.
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Read the full article at TheJournal.ie →📄Source document: Gardaí
3 reports
TheJournal.ieIndependentCenter6 days agoThe article lists five major news stories from the day, covering topics such as an ongoing murder investigation in Ireland, a fatal road crash, Israeli politicians opposing a U.S.-Iran deal, FIFA being urged to act against a referee linked to white supremacist gestures, and reports of student homelessness in Irish higher education institutions.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a summary of multiple news items without overtly favoring any particular political perspective. It does not include commentary, framing, or emphasis that would suggest a clear ideological slant. The content is primarily informational and neutral in tone.
Official sources cited
- government Gardaí
- government Freedom of Information Act
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Bias read (Center): The article reports on a traffic accident and the associated public safety appeal by authorities. It provides factual details without opinion, framing, or emphasis that would indicate a political or ideological slant. The focus is on the event itself and the official response.
Official sources cited
- government Garda Spokesperson Statement
TheJournal.ieIndependentCenter7 days ago Gardaí extend taser rollout after devices used 15 times since DecemberAn Garda Síochána has extended the rollout of tasers following their use 15 times since December, with no serious injuries reported among either the subjects or officers.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without apparent bias, focusing on the usage statistics and outcomes of taser deployment by An Garda Síochána. There is no evident framing that favors one side over another, and it does not include commentary or language that suggests a particular ideological
Official sources cited
- government An Garda Síochána
Ireland