A video on TikTok shows one of the two new water cannons recently purchased by An Garda Síochána being driven in Dublin. The cannons, costing €1.5 million, are intended to enhance the force's capability in managing public order situations.
This is the first sighting of one of two new water cannons bought for Gardaí – at a cost of €1.5 million. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris announced plans last year for the purchase of the two vehicles – and at least one of them is now in Dublin. A video posted on Monday on social media site TikTok showed the machine, painted in Garda blue, being driven down a road in Dublin – with two uniformed members of the force in the armoured cab.
It’s thought both water cannons are now in Dublin, after they were manufactured in recent weeks by a company in Italy. The company declined to comment when the Irish Mirror contacted them before Christmas. Commissioner Harris confirmed the purchase of the water cannons last September. “They're built to European specification and the overall cost is going to be in the region of about €1.5 million,” he said. He added: “We hope to see the delivery of these vehicles relatively soon, in the next three to four months. That will be a significant uplift in our capability around policing public order.” It will be the first time An Garda Síochána owns its own water cannons – previously the force borrowed two from the PSNI. The cannons will be capable of each carrying some 5,200 litres of water but are smaller than the two vehicles borrowed from the PSNI. Mr Harris said one reason for that is to make them more manoeuvrable around Dublin streets. The procurement process for the permanent water cannon trucks progressed after Commissioner Drew Harris made a case to the Government for them in the weeks following the Dublin riots in November 2023. During the violent riots, which began following a knife attack on three young children and a school care assistant outside a primary school on Dublin's Parnell Square, rioters were involved in multiple incidents of vandalism, arson and looting in the city centre, as well as assaults on Gardaí. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) loaned An Garda Síochána two water cannons following a request for mutual aid from Commissioner Harris in the aftermath of the Dublin riots for use in the event of any further riots or violent protests. However, they were returned without ever having been used. Mr Harris told reporters last September that he hoped the new cannons would not have to be used – but would be there if needed. He said: “They are in effect a very effective tool and tactic to use in public order situations, but obviously, we don't want things to escalate to that position. At the same time, neither do we want to be dependent on having to loan a vehicle when we should be self sufficient ourselves.” The Irish Mirror has contacted the Garda Press Office for comment.
WATER CANNONS GARDAI PUBLIC ORDER RIOTS DUBLIN
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