Numbers growing in Armed Support Unit

Work is continuing to to staff the Armed Support Unit (ASU) in Cavan from local garda members.

To date the unit, which has been in operation in the county since 2019, has been temporarily staffed by highly-skilled officers drawn from other units located around the country.

But, as reported by The Anglo-Celt, the competition process to begin replacing them with local personnel began at the beginning of this year, with many now involved in expert training taking place in Dublin.

The first Regional Armed Support Unit (ASU) was established on a pilot basis in late 2008 and there are now a total of 12 nationwide, covering all Garda regions, deployed on a 24/7 basis and providing high-visibility, tactical, armed response capacity.

There are presently three ASUs in what was formerly known as the Northern region as a whole - including Ballyshannon and Dundalk also. Cavan is staffed on rotation by established ASU members drawn from elsewhere, excluding those located on the Border.

A primary driver behind the set-up of the unit in Cavan was now-retired Garda Chief Superintendent for the Cavan-Monaghan District, John O'Reilly.

In terms of accommodating the new unit, refurbishment works are currently underway at the main Cavan Garda Station, with other garda units decamped to newly-acquired accommodation at the former Garda and Customs building in Cavan Town, at the junction with Farnham and Abbey Street.

“We'll be moving it on to a permanent footing now,” Garda Commissioner Drew Harris updated members at the recent Cavan Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting.

“The work at Cavan Station to house the ASU is near completion. This year that'll see a compliment of three [sergeants] and 15 [officers] assigned, and next year that should grow to a complement of five and 25,” said the Commissioner.

He also explained the staggered growth of the unit - the ardous nature of the training and that not every applicant meets the requirements.

“One can't always be assured you'll get numbers through the programme. Pass, fail, you have to meet certain standards as one would expect. I can't know now how many people are going to be successful."

He added specifically, in response to a fear of growing dissident activity against the looming backdrop of Brexit, that An Garda Síochána is working to build “depth” within the force to cope with any such threats arising.

The “expectation” he said is that ASUs will grow their ranks further over the next 18 months, resulting in a “greater depth” in armed support across the border region.