Twentysix assaults on gardai unacceptable occupational hazard

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has said the number of assaults on officers is an “unacceptable occupational hazard”, after 26 assaults or obstructions on officers were recorded in the Cavan-Monaghan division over the last five years.
Almost 1,500 incidents of assaults or obstructing gardaí have been recorded nationally in the last five years - rising from 263 in 2013 to 282 last year. Of 84 assaults or obstructions on gardaí recorded nationally in the first quarter of this year, one took place in Cavan and Monaghan. If that trend continues, a new high of 336 incidents could be recorded by the end of 2015, warn garda representatives.
The GRA says it’s time for new legislation to protect gardaí from assaults.
Association president Dermot O’Brien said this week: “We have sought specific legislation and the Government repeatedly tell us that there’s legislation in place.”
The group says that the laws currently in place are simply not working, otherwise the figures wouldn’t be increasing every year.
“It’s unacceptable and it shouldn’t be happening,” he added.
According to figures from the Department of Justice, the Cavan-Monaghan division currently has 317 gardaí, down from 407 in 2010. Five new recruits were assigned to Cavan Town earlier in recent weeks with a further three new Garda recruits scheduled to arrive locally later this year.