Garda operation: Approximately 1,000 gardaí will be on duty in the Dublin metropolitan region today as part of a major St Patrick's Day security operation.People urged to drink sensibly and to be aware public is entitled to enjoy apeaceful weekend festival
Building material on O'Connell Street has been cleared away for the weekend in an effort to avoid the rioting surrounding the Love Ulster parade last month.
On that occasion paving slabs and other materials were broken up by rioters and thrown at gardaí. "We've spent a number of weeks planning the policing operation in conjunction with the festival committee, city council and various other agencies," said Supt Kevin Donohoe of the Garda Press Office.
"We've probably never had the same level of demands as we'll see this weekend. The full control of the day will rest with a senior officer who'll be in our command centre in Pearse Street station."
This chief superintendent would have access to footage from CCTV cameras all over the city and would, via radio, direct Garda resources into any areas where the need arose.
More than 700 people were arrested around the State for public-order offences on St Patrick's Day last year - a doubling of the number of arrests for the same day in 2004.
Offences included being drunk and disorderly, not moving on when requested, drinking on the street and trespassing.
Supt Donohoe said a major part of Garda planning in recent weeks was based on controlling the sale of alcohol and on-street drinking.
Gardaí had asked pub owners to make sure customers would not take drink onto the streets.
Off-licences had been asked not to open before 4pm. While there was no legal obligation on them to adhere to this request, gardaí had been "hugely satisfied" with the response from off-licences in recent negotiations and he was hopeful many would not open before 4pm.
Gardaí were also urging people to drink sensibly and to be aware that other members of the public were entitled to enjoy a peaceful weekend.
The focus for gardaí was the creation of a safe environment in the city centre in which people could enjoy events being staged throughout the weekend, he said.
It is anticipated that 500,000 people will attend today's St Patrick's Day parade.
Supt Donohoe said gardaí did not want to create a "ring of steel". However, the mounted unit, dog unit, public-order unit and Garda helicopter would all be on standby.
"We're satisfied we have enough resources on hand to deal with anybody who is coming into town intent on causing trouble and we will deal with them speedily."
The next three days represent a significant demand on policing, with many peripheral events taking place in Dublin suburbs.
A number of major sporting events in the capital would also require a Garda presence, including the football and hurling GAA all-Ireland club finals in Croke Park and schools rugby finals in Donnybrook.
