ANTI-RIOT

Gardai plan to buy two water cannons to police riots & public disorder incidents amid rise in protest violence & arson. Gardai will purchase two water cannons for policing riots and other public disorder incidents.

It comes amid a dramatic rise in protests across the country, some of which have resulted in violence and arson.

They will have the capacity to carry 5,200 litres of waterOn Thursday, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said he had signed off on the procurement of “two anti-riot vehicles”, each with the capacity to carry 5,200 litres of water.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman said that 3.7 million euro had been spent on public-order equipment over the last two-and-a-half years.

She said the public order unit was expanding its fleet of 27 vehicles, adding: “We’ve just spent €1.4 million and are at the minute delivering another 15 vehicles across the country.”

Commissioner Harris said gardai “buy the best equipment”, adding that he hoped hard hats will be approved for members within weeks – following complaints from representative bodies.