Drew Harris armoured jeep flung into the air at Garda HQ

McMurphy · 07-04-2019 12:06PM #1

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 · 07-04-2019 12:08PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:10PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:18PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:21PM

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.

07-04-2019 12:22PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:23PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:25PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:26PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:30PM

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

punisher5112 · 07-04-2019 12:30PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:31PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:32PM

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

Ten of Swords · 07-04-2019 12:35PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:35PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:38PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:40PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:40PM

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

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

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

kneemos · 07-04-2019 12:41PM

Farawayhome wrote: »

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

The decor.

McMurphy · 07-04-2019 12:42PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:44PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:45PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:47PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:50PM

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.

07-04-2019 12:50PM

Bizarre

Maybe he just wanted a chat with some old mates

Atlantic Dawn · 07-04-2019 12:50PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:52PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:53PM

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

TallGlass · 07-04-2019 12:55PM

crusier wrote: »

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

Oh no you didn't

amcalester · 07-04-2019 12:56PM

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 · 07-04-2019 12:56PM

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.

Drew Harris armoured jeep flung into the air at Garda HQ

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