GARDA leave has been cancelled across Dublin as 350 members of the public order unit are set to be on duty for Ireland’s football clash against England.
And we can reveal that a major policing plan – Operation Dearóil – is being organised to run next weekend from Friday into Sunday morning.
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The FAI has confirmed that England were allocated the usual five per cent of tickets for the Nations League match, which is just under 3,000 seats in the Avivia.
But with many more fans expected to travel across the Irish Sea to the capital, gardai are working to ensure that there is no violence.
The Irish Sun has learned that the Gardai have been liaising with the UK’s Football Policing Unit, sharing a “wide exchange” of information, according to a senior source.
This is being done to identify potential high-risk football hooligans who are known for violence.
It is understood that cops from the UKFPU – which strives to reduce violence, antisocial behaviour and disorder at football events – will also travel to Dublin to assist gardai.
We have also learned that the operation will also involve gardai at the airport monitoring those coming in from Friday and into Saturday.
There will be detectives working covertly and overtly, monitoring potential aggressors both at the game and around the city.
A source said: “There will be a very strong policing presence around the city and at the stadium to ensure everything runs smoothly.
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“All leave has been cancelled across the six Dublin divisions.
“And it’s anticipated that there will be around 350 public order unit members on duty on the day of the game too. The operation will also involve airport checks.
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“People who may well have never done anything on this island but have been identified as potential aggressors will be monitored too.”
Around 1,800 gardai were on duty for the Europa League final between Italians Atalanta and German side Bayer Leverkusen at the Aviva in May.
Some gardai are frustrated that leave has been cancelled once more for what has been categorised as a “extraordinary event”.
There have been several dates this year where officers could not take holidays, including a weekend at the end of June when there were a number of concerts – including Taylor Swift – and other events and matches taking place in the capital.
A source said: “When this happens, it just exposes the fact that there aren’t enough resources and gardai to deal with major events without having to cancel holidays.”
And the public order unit has been called in to deal with rioting over immigration.
The major Garda op for next weekend means that cops are more than prepared for any violence and that there is no repeat of the infamous scenes of February 1995.
On that occasion at Lansdowne Road, with Ireland 1-0 up in the friendly, play was abandoned after 26 minutes when English hooligans began rioting and throwing debris.
No violence expected
Far-right group Combat 18 were blamed for starting the trouble, which resulted in the two nations not playing each other again for almost 20 years.
Former FAI CEO Bernard O’Byrne doesn’t anticipate any repeat of such violence.
He told The Irish Sun: “You have to be aware of the possibility of trouble – but I don’t see there being any major issues.
“ I think those days are mostly a thing of the past.
‘Small number of headbangers’
“The thing about England is unfortunately they have a small number of headbangers that follow them. There are far more good than bad supporters but you have to be wary of the ones who can cause trouble.
“Unfortunately in 1995 there was no great surprise that there was trouble on the night. What was a surprise was the extent and the organisation of the whole thing, by factions like Combat 18.
“We were aware of the danger but no one knew just how bad it would be. There have been a few games since which have been fine.”
He added: “I’ll be going to the game and am looking forward to it. It should be a good atmosphere.”
Euro 2024 arrests
There were 77 England fans arrested at Euro 2024 out of an estimated 240,000 visitor trips to Germany from the UK during the summer tournament.
UK courts have served 13 notices for Football Banning Orders for offences. Eight of these have now been issued and a further five people were bailed and will return to court at a later date.
Meanwhile, new gaffer Heimir Hallgrimsson and assistant manager John O’Shea will announce Ireland’s squad today for the Nation’s League battle against the Euro 2024 finalists.
Hallgrimsson admitted that he would be looking to his staff for their knowledge of the players while picking his first squad.
‘Not going to try to lie’
He said: “I’m not going to even try to lie about being an expert on Irish players, so that’s why it’s so important to have John [O’Shea] and Paddy [McCarthy] with me.
“This selection of the squad will probably be more or less based on their opinion.
“They know the character of the players. As time goes on I will definitely know more and more, so I can take over more of the selection and have more to say.
“I think it’s really strong to have these two guys in the coaching staff. They have been in for the last four matches and the changes I saw in those games, I thought they were good.”
Next weekend’s game will be Hallgrimsson’s first as Ireland manager since his appointment in July.
Former Ireland international Lee Carsley is in caretaker charge of England following the departure of Gareth Southgate after the team’s loss to Spain in the Euros.
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