The Garda brass band may participate in this year’s Dublin Pride Festival, the annual series of events celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer ( LGBTQ) life in Ireland.
The interim Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan made the announcement at the launch of the 2014 Dublin Pride Festival this evening.
“If the Garda band are available I think that it is important that they participate in it,” she said.
She did not confirm whether gardaí participating in the parade would be allowed wear their uniforms. “That’s something that we’re looking at but not just in terms of this parade, but the overall issue of wearing uniforms while participating in parades.”
Ms O’Sullivan was joined by the 2014 Pride Parade grand marshall, Colm O’Gorman of Amnesty International, and Dublin’s Lord Mayor Oisín Quinn.
Jason Flynn, chairman of Dublin Pride, said: “We have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with An Garda Síochána in the past, liaising with them in organising the annual Pride Parade.”
The Dublin Pride Festival will take place between June 14th and 29th.