Drew Harris armoured jeep flung into the air at Garda HQ

McMurphy

Had a bit of a chuckle this morning when I read the headline and imagined the scene.

Bomb-proof jeep carrying Garda Commissioner Drew Harris flips over at Garda HQ in Dublin

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris had a rocky ride to Dublin when his bullet proof jeep was flung into the air after smashing into a barrier at Garda headquarters.

A garda on sentinel hit an emergency button to activate a security barrier which shot up from the ground to stop the unmarked PSNI jeep entering the depot.

Ireland’s top cop would normally be picked up at the border by a Garda Emergency Response Unit but on this occasion armed PSNI officers brought him all the way to Dublin.

A senior source last night told Dublin Live: “The garda saw a Northern Ireland jeep driving at a pace towards the barriers (at Garda HQ).

Now fair play to the quick thinking Garda on sentinel duty, because in fairness that unmarked armourplated jeep containing armed men could have been from groups wishing to carryout atrocities against our states police HQ.

This had the potential to have ended a lot worse than it did, and no one could have blamed the same Garda if they'd have opened fire and maimed or killed someone inside the jeep.

But WTF are armed PSNI officers doing 100 kms over the border, well in to our capital city, and is this acceptable that they were?

Did the Guards not know that an armed PSNI unit were escorting their commissioner to their HQ? Or did they know and neglect to inform certain members who probably should have known to prevent any misunderstandings?

Raises lots of questions imo.

Dial Hard

Johnny Dogs wrote:

This had the potential to have ended a lot worse than it did, and no one could have blamed the same Garda if he'd have opened fire and maimed or killed someone inside the jeep.

You do understand the concept of "bulletproof", right?

McMurphy

Dial Hard wrote: »

You do understand the concept of "bulletproof", right?

Yeah fairly well....

People emerging from an upturned armour plated jeep in the midst of a highly charged scene of confusion don't tend to be bulletproof though.

Did you miss the point of the question?

Anteayer

It sounds like the Garda on gate duty did her job extremely well and simply had not been alerted of the incoming, unidentified vehicle.

Those security protocols would be there for a very good reason.

You'd also have to ask why the unidentified vehicle approached at speed. It wouldn't have been any issue if it had approached slowly and identified itself at the gate.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

But WTF are armed PSNI officers doing 100 miles over the border, well in to our capital city city, and is this acceptable that they were?
.

It's just 60 miles for a start, or 100 kilometres.


But, I'd agree that there needs to be some explanation regarding armed PSNI continuing the escort south of the border.

Anteayer

Anteayer wrote: »

It sounds like the Garda on gate duty did her job extremely well and simply had not been alerted of the incoming, unidentified vehicle.

Those security protocols would be there for a very good reason.

You'd also have to ask why the unidentified vehicle approached at speed. It wouldn't have been any issue if it had approached slowly and identified itself at the gate.

Sounds like she did the right thing alright.
But an unmarked jeep pulling up with a Nordie lad saying "We've got your top cop in the back, let us in" wouldn't be the most reassuring thing to hear for me :P

McMurphy

Anteayer wrote: »

It sounds like the Garda on gate duty did her job extremely well and simply had not been alerted of the incoming, unidentified vehicle.

Those security protocols would be there for a very good reason.

You'd also have to ask why the unidentified vehicle approached at speed. It wouldn't have been any issue if it had approached slowly and identified itself at the gate.

From what I'm reading, it would appear that certain state security protocols weren't carried out, or were disregarded, possibly due to orders from Harris himself, though this will need to be established.

Normally, armed PSNI officers chauffeur Harris to the border where he then transfers into a Garda car escorted by the emergency response unit (ERU).

But for reasons unknown Harris decided to continue his journey in the PSNI vehicle back to Dublin.

The senior source said: “For some reason Harris decided he would not change over vehicle at the border and got the PSNI to drive him to the garda depot with the ERU escort.

“His bomb proof escort jeep was written off from the impact.
“There was serious damage done to the vehicle and now there’s a big investigation into what exactly happened.”

McMurphy

Vincenzo Hollow Sweater wrote: »

It's just 60 miles for a start, or 100 kilometres.


But, I'd agree that there needs to be some explanation regarding armed PSNI continuing the escort south of the border.

Yeah my bad, km obviously.

cannotlogin

Sounds like she acted correctly - it was an unidentified and unauthorised vehicle.

Drew Harris needs to publically acknowledge she followed the correct procedure.

Subcomandante Marcos

Jesus he's going to have some explaining as to why this happened. Fair play Garda on sentinel for doing your job.

punisher5112

Question, would it not be better that the barriers be up all the time and lowered when needed, exactly the same as at the Daìl.

McMurphy

cannotlogin wrote: »

Sounds like she acted correctly - it was an unidentified and unauthorised vehicle.

Drew Harris needs to publically acknowlefge she followed the correct procedure.

There's absolutely no question surrounding the Garda on sentinel dutys actions, and following protocol imo.

There's bigger questions here, and armed psni officers operating in our state with the commissioner accompanying them would be the opening one.

Farawayhome

The Gardaí are bad enough, the Gardaí combined with the ****ing ruc?

Ten of Swords

Harris was very irresponsible for this but one can assume that if he chose to continue on from the border with his PSNI escort there was either A) no Garda car to meet him or if there was they also did not notify HQ that they had not collected him.

HeidiHeidi

Farawayhome wrote: »

The Gardaí are bad enough, the Gardaí combined with the ****ing ruc?

2001 called, they want their police force back :rolleyes:

Fr_Dougal

Ten of Swords wrote: »

Harris was very irresponsible for this but one can assume that if he chose to continue on from the border with his PSNI escort there was either A) no Garda car to meet him or if there was they also did not notify HQ that they had not collected him.

Article says that he was met by a Garda ERU escort at the border but decided not to change cars. They escorted the PSNI jeep to Garda HQ.

kneemos

punisher5112 wrote: »

Question, would it not be better that the barriers be up all the time and lowered when needed, exactly the same as at the Daìl.

They're only used if there is a security threath apparently.

Farawayhome

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

2001 called, they want their police force back :rolleyes:

What's the difference between a marathon bar and a snickers bar?

kneemos

Farawayhome wrote: »

What's the difference between a marathon bar and a snickers bar?

The decor.

McMurphy

Ten of Swords wrote: »

Harris is a complete idiot for that but one can assume that if he chose to continue on from the border with his PSNI escort there was either A) no Garda car to meet him or if there was they also did not notify HQ that they had not collected him.

His official response will be interesting either way.

Ten of Swords

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Article says that he was met by a Garda ERU escort at the border but decided not to change cars. They escorted the PSNI jeep to Garda HQ.

Well, looks like we know who'll be getting the blame so!

TallGlass

PSNI don't exist south of border, for all purpose they are just normal citizens, I wonder are PSNI officers licenced for firearms down here?

I mean if they actually opened fire south of the border, I can imagine all parties would find themselves in hot water.

Very strange if you ask me. Fair play to the Garda, spot on with what they done. Commissioners first boo boo it seems!

Farawayhome

TallGlass wrote: »

PSNI don't exist south of border, for all purpose they are just normal citizens are PSNI officers licenced for firearms down here?

I mean if they actually opened fire south of the border, I can imagine all parties would find themselves in hot water.

Very strange if you ask me. Fair play to the Garda, spot on with what they done. Commissioners first boo boo it seems!

He had no part to play in loyalist gangs kicking people out of their homes?

amcalester

Harris’s response here will be telling. If he takes the blame it could be a watershed moment for Gardai HQ transparency.

Or he could blame a breakdown in communication and things will continue as normal.

riffmongous

Bizarre

Maybe he just wanted a chat with some old mates

Atlantic Dawn

I take it we won't be seeing photos of the Jeep on the Garda Twitter page, lol. No mention of the story on state media, what a surprise that is.

TallGlass

amcalester wrote: »

Harris’s response here will be telling. If he takes the blame it could be a watershed moment for Gardai HQ transparency.

Or he could blame a breakdown in communication and things will continue as normal.

He really has to take the blame. In fairness. A NI registered jeep, driving at speed towards Garda HQ, what could go wrong!

crusier

The last one to get flipped like that by a Garda was Carla!

TallGlass

crusier wrote: »

The last one to get flipped like that by a Garda was Carla!

Oh no you didn't

amcalester

TallGlass wrote: »

He really has to take the blame. In fairness. A NI registered jeep, driving at speed towards Garda HQ, what could go wrong!

I agree but Garda HQ isn’t exactly known for taking responsibility for mistakes.

kneemos

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I take it we won't be seeing photos of the Jeep on the Garda Twitter page, lol. No mention of the story on state media, what a surprise that is.

Betcha it's on the one PM News.

Let's see.

Four minutes now.

McMurphy

riffmongous wrote: »

Bizarre

Maybe he just wanted a chat with some old mates

I'm imagining a scene where Harris is simply showing off to his old colleagues, "c'mon back till my place lads, wait to you see the size of this new office that they gave me, and I'll show you all of the shiny equipment the lads down here get to play with".

Unsure exactly how serious this could be for Harris, but he's a lot of explaining to do.

Necro

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

Had a bit of a chuckle this morning when I read the headline and imagined the scene.

Bomb-proof jeep carrying Garda Commissioner Drew Harris flips over at Garda HQ in Dublin




Now fair play to the quick thinking Garda on sentinel duty, because in fairness that unmarked armourplated jeep containing armed men could have been from groups wishing to carryout atrocities against our states police HQ.

This had the potential to have ended a lot worse than it did, and no one could have blamed the same Garda if they'd have opened fire and maimed or killed someone inside the jeep.

But WTF are armed PSNI officers doing 100 miles over the border, well in to our capital city city, and is this acceptable that they were?

Did the Guards not know that an armed PSNI were escorting their commissioner to their HQ? Or did they know and neglect to inform certain members who probably should have known to prevent any misunderstandings?

Raises lots of questions imo.

Garda was probably a Wolfe Tones fan tbh.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Ten of Swords wrote: »

Harris was very irresponsible for this but one can assume that if he chose to continue on from the border with his PSNI escort there was either A) no Garda car to meet him or if there was they also did not notify HQ that they had not collected him.

There obviously was a car available, as the report said they were escorted by the ARU.

kneemos

Vincenzo Hollow Sweater wrote: »

There obviously was a car available, as the report said they were escorted by the ARU.

The ARU chasing an unmarked Jeep into HQ?

Franz Von Peppercorn

Pretty stupid move from the commissioner. He’s bringing an armed force into the Republic not necessarily licensed to arm themselves here just because he didn’t want to change cars?

I can imagine him in the car thinking - what’s the worst that can happen. Well it did.

EmmetSpiceland

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

Unsure exactly how serious this could be for Harris, but he's a lot of explaining to do.

It sounds like you want this to be more than it is.

Farawayhome

kneemos wrote: »

Betcha it's on the one PM News.

Let's see.

Four minutes now.

Any update on this?

McMurphy

Yamanoto wrote: »

Unmarked jeep / unarmed plainclothes PSNI members, with ERU escorting would be my guess.

From the article.

Ireland’s top cop would normally be picked up at the border by a Garda Emergency Response Unit but on this occasion armed PSNI officers brought him all the way to Dublin.

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

It sounds like you want this to be more than it is.

It sounds like I would like whatever the fcuk kind of a serious screw up happened here is explained to us, in an honest and transparent manner, and those responsible take s
Ownership of it.

Lord knows the Guards have been under some serious investigations of late, so let's see if Harris is going to buck the trend.

I hope I have laid out my stall plainly enough for you Emmet, but should you have any further questions or misunderstandings, please feel free to send them on to me, either on thread or by pm if you so choose to.

Signore Fancy Pants

punisher5112 wrote: »

Question, would it not be better that the barriers be up all the time and lowered when needed, exactly the same as at the Daìl.

No, its the main vehicular entrance with substantial volumes of traffic throughout the day.

Yamanoto

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

From the article.

Same articles headline says jeep flipped over, witness quoted within says 'it nearly turned over'.

All speculation at this stage.

kneemos

Farawayhome wrote: »

Any update on this?

Nothing on the telly anyway.

punisher5112

Dale Doback wrote: »

No, its the main vehicular entrance with substantial volumes of traffic throughout the day.

And!

What's the issue with having to stop to prove who you are.

They do so at the Daìl.

Who picks up the tab on this?

Armoured vehicles are in no way cheap.

Would a helicopter not be a much better use of resources as taking a number of vehicles off the road to escort etc...

Atlantic Dawn

Farawayhome wrote: »

Any update on this?

Likely it will be featured just after the 9pm news goes out so they don't have to do a proper news story on it.

Ten of Swords

Dublin Live looks like the original article last night. The Mirror picked it up an hour later and Journal picked it up 15 minutes ago

judeboy101

Different bedclothes same mattress

HeidiHeidi

punisher5112 wrote: »

And!

What's the issue with having to stop to prove who you are.

They do so at the Daìl.

Who picks up the tab on this?

Armoured vehicles are in no way cheap.

Would a helicopter not be a much better use of resources as taking a number of vehicles off the road to escort etc...

Jaysus, I can only imagine the vapours that would be had in various quarters if he was seen to be travelling by chopper :eek:

punisher5112

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Jaysus, I can only imagine the vapours that would be had in various quarters if he was seen to be travelling by chopper :eek:

Modern policing needs modern thinking...

JohnnyFlash

Dublin Live has about as much credibility as The Liberal or some chancer on twitter saying he saw something. I’d wait for something more substantial to appear in a slightly more serious and highbrow publication before doing the old judge,jury, and executioner.

punisher5112

Probably just a smudge on the bumper and the vehicle is fine....

Signore Fancy Pants

punisher5112 wrote: »

And!

And what?

punisher5112 wrote: »

What's the issue with having to stop to prove who you are.

You do stop and you are identified.

punisher5112 wrote: »

They do so at the Daìl.

And?

punisher5112 wrote: »

Who picks up the tab on this?

I don't care.

punisher5112 wrote: »

Armoured vehicles are in no way cheap.

I know, I drive them.

punisher5112 wrote: »

Would a helicopter not be a much better use of resources as taking a number of vehicles off the road to escort etc...

No.

There are more vehicles available than helicopters....so not a better use of resources.