Gardai to investigate all social media abuse of its members during Coolock riots
The Garda chief also confirmed 30 people have so far been arrested over the violent week of street chaos in the capital
Gardaí are to probe all social media abuse of its members during the recent Coolock riots.
The move was announced by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in his August Report to the Policing Authority.
He vowed that each online incident against the force would be investigated and reported to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
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The Garda chief also confirmed 30 people have so far been arrested over the violent week of street chaos in the capital.
He fumed: "We saw unacceptable attacks take place on Gardaí - criminal damage and other offences of serious public disorder outside a premises on the Malahide Road and surrounding areas of Dublin 17.
"In what were very difficult circumstances Gardaí acted courageously and professionally over the course of a prolonged period on Monday, July 15 and again during other flash points later that week.
"Personnel were subjected to unacceptable levels of verbal and physical abuse which escalated into rocks, fireworks and other objects being launched towards them.
"I would like to commend and thank all Gardaí who worked diligently to keep people safe and bring offenders before the courts.
"By the end of July 2024, more than 30 arrests were made in relation to the disorder in Coolock.
"In also emphasising my utter condemnation of the attacks and the violence directed towards Gardaí dealing with these matters on the scene, I also want to acknowledge that threats and disparaging comments were made against Gardaí on social media.
"Such actions are equally intolerable and will be subject to investigation and reported to the Director of Public Prosecutions where appropriate."
He also revealed that 570 Garda personnel out of its 14,000 current members had used its INSPIRE Wellbeing Service.
A total of 138 personnel had attended Psychological Supervision, 119 Trauma Counselling and 313 attended Standard Counselling.
33 Gardai were injured while on duty in July with 14 injured from assaults.
Gardaí used force 1,052 times across the country during July with 16 members and 16 civilians injured.
Pepper spray was deployed 127 times and tasers on five occasions.
The Commissioner said 844 males and 120 females were subjected to force.
Alcohol was involved in 624 of the incidents, while drugs accounted for 305.
A total of 43 per cent of use-of-force deployments occurred on Friday, Saturday and Sundays.
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