Gardaí are “hamstrung” when dealing with criminals because they are unsure how much force they can use, Ciara Kelly has said. 

The Garda Representative Association has raised concerns that many members do not raise their batons or use pepper spray in dangerous situations because they fear they might be punished afterwards. 

Garda Mark O’Meara claimed there is an “over-zealous application” of discipline and it is fuelling the retention crisis within the force. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, presenter and former GP Ciara Kelly said she believes that “being a Guard is a bit like being a doctor”. 

“You are trained for high-risk, dangerous sort of situations at times and in those you need to be trained so that you don’t even think, you just act and you know the parameters that you act within,” she said. 

“If the Guards don’t know if they can pursue a car that’s joyriding down the street because they don’t know if they’re going to end up in front of GSOC if they do [or]... use their batons even in the face of violence or potential assaults on themselves… we’re getting into really weird territory.

“I understand there has to be a balance struck - nobody wants to see police brutality or things like that.” 

Gardaí at the scene of an investigation. Photo: Leon Farrell/© RollingNews.ie. 26/11/2024

Ciara added that overall Gardaí are a “benign force” and that they are “on the side of the people very largely”. 

“I think they should be allowed to police and do their jobs,” she said. 

“If they are hamstrung to the extent that they don’t know what they’re supposed to do anymore, then we are in trouble.” 

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris inspecting the 319 new Gardaí. Picture by: Mark Condren/RollingNews.ie/Pool

Co-presenter Shane Coleman cautioned there are good reasons for Gardaí to have rules about the use of force. 

“If you go back 10-years ago, we did have a series of problems with An Garda Síochána and we do need checks and balances,” he said. 

“I’m not absolutely convinced of the merit of this argument; I think it’s a really difficult job to be a Garda and I think it’s a tricky one. 

“Is it more problematic to draw your baton than it was 10-years ago or 20-years ago? I’m not so sure about that.”

Main image: Split of Ciara Kelly and members of An Garda Síochána.