some points
1. the gardai were in a camper van outside overnight
2. gardai were inside the post office before the robbers (as i understand it, as the hammer was been put to the glass the gardai were on the inside with the post office staff)
3. this was not part of anvil operation (so Bertie’s ‘weak kneed’ comment is out of place, it would be in place if it were anvil, the comment seems to be a response to people who were asking for a garda response to the increased gun crime in dublin west and dublin city, the govt. response was anvil.)
4. gardai had prior intell but it was not possible to warn postal staff and customers in advance (they could have provided proxy staff, also if they were on the inside, then the staff did know, this point needs further probing)
5. a firearm was recovered at the scene
6. no news was reported that the armed robbers discharged any shots
7. the gardai have appointed a garda chief superintendent to investigate
8. Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, said that “while any loss of life was to be regretted, members of the gardaí must take whatever measures necessary to deal with armed gangs” (you mean within the law Michael, only last week McDowell told a Dail committee that he would like to hear the cock and bull stories of asylum-seekers at the airport and he wishes he did not have to afford asylum-seekers due process but had to under international convention)
whatever measures necessary is unqualified. I hope we don?t see death squads dealing with these armed gangs. “An Garda Siochana regrets the loss of life in any circumstances and conveys its condolences to the families of those who have died.”
perhaps McDowell should think about the following post office robbery in relation to his revolving new airport terminal for the fast track deportation of cock and bull , or as Planet Potato very badly put it Black Refugee attacks Irishman
May 6th – robbery foiled when a customer tackled the raider. A man from the Congo, who was in the queue at the post office on Botanic Road in Glasnevin in Dublin, suffered head injuries when he fell through the front window of the post office while tackling the armed man yesterday morning.
there are about 1,400 sub post offices around Ireland down 600 in the last 10 years, perhaps we could employ security guards at each one, perhaps we should ask the have a go hero preacher from the Congo if he knows anybody that would like to have a full time job in a semi state company. It would beat handing out paper towels for tips in Irish nite club toilets.