Emergency Times

Garda Damien Sharkey, Rest In Peace. Our condolences to his family and friends and to his colleagues in An Garda Síochána

The Control Room Awards celebrate the outstanding work of all emergency service control rooms across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, including not only ambulance but police, fire and coast guard services.

Over the past seven years, heroes of the emergency room have been honoured for their vital work serving the public through these awards, and our incredible staff in NEOC have had six winners in that time.

We are so proud of the NEOC team that have been shortlisted this year for Team of the Year and wish them the very best of luck this evening. 💛💚

Cooling down after a Hot and sticky callout! L-R Firefighters Ro Boyle and Dan Fitzpatrick and Driver/Mechanic Terry Fitzpatrick from Carlow County Fire & Rescue Service 🌞 🍦 🔥

An Garda Síochána is opening engagement with car enthusiasts, in particular young male drivers and have unveiled the newest addition to its fleet, a Modified Garda Car.

This Volkswagen Golf 2.0litre, 295 bhp, 4wd car is a RESCUE car which was seized by An Garda Síochána during an operation that uncovered large volumes of illegal drugs and unexplained cash destined to cause harm in our society.

An Garda Síochána will carry out modifications to this car and they are looking for suggestions, as to what to do!

Operation NEXUS is a project by An Garda Síochána to support and improve An Garda Síochána engagement with Car/ Motoring Enthusiasts with the aim of improving road safety and reducing road deaths.

The launch of An Garda Síochána Operation NEXUS took place after the Donegal Rally Ceremonial start this evening and was attended by senior members of An Garda Síochána, Motorsport Ireland, Donegal Motor Club and Drivers/ Teams taking part in the Donegal Rally 2024.

This is one of the newest vehicles in the Garda Roads Policing Fleet.

This Volkswagen Golf 2.0litre, 295 bhp, 4wd car is a RESCUE car which was seized by An Garda Síochána during an operation that uncovered large volumes of illegal drugs and unexplained cash destined to cause harm in our society.

This patrol car is now used for road safety education to help keep people safe.

For safety reasons, there are regulations about what level of modifications can be made to cars beyond factory specifications.

Any work carried out will be within legal limits.

In carrying out the modifications, An Garda Síochána will provide information on the modifications and what are the legal considerations. These information notes will be published on the Operation NEXUS webpage on the Garda website and can be accessed by scanning interactive QR codes on the car with any smartphone. Photos courtesy An Garda Síochána

The Irish Coast Guard have released a first glimpse of the new Irish Coast Guard AW189 Helicopter courtesy of Bristow’s Ireland.

One man has died following a fire at a residential building at Oldtown Demense, Naas, Co. Kildare.

Three gardai who responded to the incident were injured and received medical attention.

The alarm was raised around 4.15am. Gardaí evacuated the the building.

Kildare Fire Service attended the incident and brought the fire under control. The scene is preserved for a technical examination.

One man reported dead and three gardaí injured during a fire related incident at Old Town Demsnse in Naas, Co. Kildare overnight. More to follow.

Óglaigh na hÉireann has announced, with sadness, that the death has occurred of Lieutenant Conal Sheeran of the Irish Air Corps, who was found in an unresponsive state by his colleagues in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel.

Lt Sheeran was a native of County Westmeath and was 30 years of age. Lt Sheeran joined Óglaigh na hÉireann in 2012 as a Recruit in 1 Infantry Battalion, before joining the 70th Air Corps Apprentice Class also in 2012. He graduated from this training in 2016 and subsequently became a member of the 36th Air Corps Cadet Class in 2017. He completed this training and was commissioned as an Officer in the Air Corps in 2020. Lt Sheeran had 11 proud years of service with Óglaigh na hÉireann and served in a number of appointments, including the Flight Training School, 506 Squadron and No.5 Ops Wing HQ. He also completed a Bachelor of Engineering in Military Aviation Technology in NUI Galway.

The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, stated "today the Air Corps and Óglaigh na hÉireann have lost a fine colleague and a better friend. All of us in Óglaigh na hÉireann extend our deepest sympathies to the family and the friends of Lt Sheeran, and to all those who were lucky enough to have known him, in whatever capacity that it was. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis”.

Probationer Garda Gavin Kelly, Gardaí Emmet Masterson and Emmet Heart with Sean Prior, Operations Manager, Cavan/Monaghan Region of the National Ambulance Service at the official opening of the Cavan Civil Defence HQ today.

The official opening of the new Cavan Civil Defence Headquarters is taking place this afternoon. Minister Peter Burke TD was welcomed to the new headquarters by Civil Defence Officer John Maguire and Assistant Civil Defence Offficer Carmel Prior.

Very proud members of Cavan Civil Defence and invited guests enjoying refreshements after the official opening of their new headquarters in Cavan today.

Garda Public Order Units are dealing with incidents at Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow. Three people are reported to have been arrested. Several garda patrol cars are also reported to have been damaged and set on fire as a result of the disturbances there.

We are delighted to support Gardaí in Togher with their Open Day on Saturday, 13th April 2024.

Our appliance and crew will also be in attendance, All members of the public welcome!

At the Garda Training College in Templemore this morning, 165 new gardaí were attested into An Garda Síochána.

Of those sworn members 110 are male and 55 are female. This brings to 14,091, the number of Sworn gardaí into the service.

These 165 newly sworn members will be allocated as follows:
• Dublin Region 101
• Eastern Region 39
• Southern Region 14
• NorthWestern Region 12
(*166 allocations includes 1 probationer returning from Family Friendly Leave)

These newly attested 165 members of An Garda Síochána were recruited as part of the 2022 recruitment campaign.

The new Gardaí commenced their Garda training in July 2023, and have undertaken a blend of on-line learning, on-site learning in the Garda College, and experiential learning in training Garda stations.

During their training these new Probationer Gardaí observed and assisted at Fatal Road Traffic Collisions, major crime investigations, drug seizures, on duty in Dublin during Serious Public Order Incident in November 2023 and helped citizens in need at their most vulnerable.

These 165 newly sworn Gardaí will now take on operational responsibilities.

Speaking at today’s attestation, Commissioner Drew Harris welcoming the new Garda probationers said;

"An Garda Síochána is built upon the hard work, dedication and commitment given by its Gardaí and its staff.

As one of the most trusted police services in the world, the vast majority of people believe An Garda Síochána delivers a good service. And most people have few concerns about crime in their local area.

These significant achievements have been possible by the foundations laid by others who have passed through this college and stood where you are today.

And from today you will join them and strengthen this fine organisation.”

Congratulations and best wishes to all members who were attested today.

NEW VEHICLES

3 x New Mercedes Benz Citan ISU's (Incident Support Unit's) fitted by HPMP Fire Ltd soon to be in the run with Dublin Fire Brigade

For more photos see www.Fire-Ireland.com

Emergency Times

Best of Green Luck 🍀 to the firefighters from Birr, Edenderry and Tullamore in County Offaly who are representing Offaly Fire and Rescue Service in New York for St. Patrick’s Day Parade. 🇮🇪 🇺🇸

Westmeath County Council are recruiting for an Assistant Chief Fire Officer for the county and also Retained Firefighters for Mullingar, Athlone, Kilbeggan and Castlepollard Fire stations.

Westmeath County Council (WCC) Our Services Westmeath County Council services and information

Over 100 Civil Defence members awarded medals for their 30, 40, 50 and even 60 years of service in the Civil Defence.

Tánaiste presents long service medals to Civil Defence members Over 100 Civil Defence members from across Ireland were presented with long service medals by Tánaiste and Minister for Defence,

Fire crews from Tullamore and Clara in County Offaly and Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath tackled a blaze at a recycling plant at Cappincur, Tullamore last night. A crew from Ferbane is said to also be at the scene.

It's believed extensive damage has been done to the building.

Fifteen fire engines and almost 100 firefighters from London Fire Brigade tacked a blaze at a five storey premises in , London overnight.

15 people escaped before the fire brigade arrived,
130 were evacuated by firefighters,
5 people were rescued by using a 13.5m ladder, a turntable ladder & a short extension ladder.

11 people were taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Down memory lane! Some photos from one of the first Inter-Agency Exercises carried out under the Framework for Major Emergency Management (FMEM) which was held at the Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC), Curragh Camp on 16th November 2006. ‘Silent Echo’ was a CBRN/IEDD exercise and all Principal Response Agencies participated. Photos Declan Keogh