Declan Power

Skills: If a specially trained person had seen Aaron Brady (pictured) and his gang as they planned raid, perhaps outcome would have been different. Photo: Collins Courts

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Declan Power Opinion Right training can be more effective than guns when it comes to preventing crime

The conviction this week of Aaron Brady for the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe has focused attention again on armed crime in Ireland and the dangers of being a garda.

Big decisions: The United Nations Security Council meets at UN headquarters in New York City. Photo: REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo

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Declan Power Opinion UN seat a tribute to credible legacy and boots on the ground in dangerous places

Ireland winning one of the non-permanent seats on the UN's Security Council (UNSC) is clear recognition of our capacity for peacekeeping, peace-building and humanitarian engagement at the tactical, operational and strategic policy levels.

Welcome back: A notice for arriving passengers regarding the Covid-19 passenger locator form at Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport. Picture: PA

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Declan Power Opinion Time to widen our thinking instead of putting all our virus eggs in the quarantine basket

The quarantine is window dressing, the wrong thing for the wrong time.

Safety: Simple steps like keeping hands clean can make a huge difference. Photo: Reuters/David Ryder

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Declan Power Opinion Think calmly - follow Harry's House Rules and we can play our part in Covid-19 war

So, on what should be a week of celebration of our national day and saint, many of you find yourselves isolating in your own homes. There is a new reality and all is changed, changed utterly as Yeats once put it.

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Declan Power: 'The world is watching - we must handle Lisa Smith's return the right way and act as a guide to others'

As expected, Lisa Smith, upon her arrival back to this State, has been arrested on suspicion of terrorist activity.

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Declan Power: 'Lisa Smith's return highlights our need to set up a de-radicalisation programme'

As the nation waits for Lisa Smith to arrive back to these shores along with her infant daughter Rakeya, attention will be turning as to what will happen when they step onto Irish soil.

Threat: Members of the PSNI at the laneway where QIH executive Kevin Lunney was abucted in Kinawley, Co. Fermanagh, in September. Photo: Damien Eagers

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Declan Power: 'Cross-Border joint policing unit would end forever reign of criminality in the region'

The recent dismissal by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan of the idea of setting up a regular joint cross-Border policing entity is to be regretted. Under the current circumstances, it is premature at best to dismiss developing such an entity.

Threat: A masked man was photographed with a statement threatening directors of Quinn Industrial Holdings

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Declan Power: 'Hard men of Border must be brought to justice in Quinn affair'

The recent violence and upheaval at Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) and on the Cavan-Fermanagh Border reminds us law and order problems in this region can quickly become national security issues.

Hit: The scene of this week’s gun murder of Keith Branigan

'Intelligence-led' approach will have more success than saturation-policing

The recent fatality in Drogheda has brought the criminal activities of a number of families there to the top of the nation's attention span once again. But will this shock Irish society into the appropriate action we need to take?

Boris on manoeuvres: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson serves food to a patient during a visit to a hospital in Devon, south west England. Photo: PA

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Declan Power: 'We should brace for a late backstop change, just in case'

The question must now be asked out loud: Have we blown it? There's no point in bleating or beating about the bush. Is there a distinct possibility that Boris's bit of whistle-stop diplomacy to Germany and France may herald a change in how the EU will deal with the UK over Brexit?

Shining a light: Sergeant Maurice McCabe’s case showed how outdated the Garda management structure had become. Photo: collins photo agency

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Declan Power: 'Reform plan has potential to unshackle gardaí and allow them to serve us better'

The plan by Commissioner Drew Harris to radically alter the structure of Garda regions and divisions is one that should largely be welcomed.

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Declan Power: 'If the Government was serious on Lisa Smith issue, it would have sent in forces'

In her most recent interview with RTÉ, Lisa Smith, the former Air Corps flight steward who left Ireland to voluntarily become a part of Isil, nails the core of this distressing matter.

Declan Power: 'Ireland has means to have brought Lisa Smith and child home by now'

In her most recent interview with RTE, Lisa Smith, the ex Aircorps flight steward who left Ireland to voluntarily become a part of Islamic State nails the core of this distressing matter.

Hand shake: President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron greet each other during a meeting at the Prefecture of Caen. Photo: Reuters

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Declan Power: 'Whatever its faults, the EU's rules foster a peace that we must never take for granted'

It was ironic this week to view a commemoration of D-Day, which set Europe free and cemented the long-term modern relationship between Europe and the US, that was being presided over by one of the most anti-Europe US presidents in recent history. Indeed, the current polarity between Donald Trump and Europe has echoes of yesteryear, which should be a warning to us all.

Declan Power: 'Gardaí can be role models and win trust on the streets'

The recent gangland shootings in Dublin have brought into sharper focus a number of key issues that will need to be addressed by the State in order to better protect the citizenry from possible lethal spillover in future.

Pro-active: Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Photo: Collins

Declan Power: 'Pro-active Harris puts down a statement of intent about reforming culture of the force'

The arrests of three gardaí as part of an investigation into corruption comes at a key time for the development of the force.

'What makes the infantry stand out compared with more hi-tech specialists is that it specialises in teamwork in adversity. Troops are taught at an early stage in their career to embrace hardship and develop physical robustness and mental resilience' (stock photo)

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Declan Power: 'Value our infantry - once lost we may never get them back'

Today the Irish Defence Forces family will once again parade, this time in Cork, to protest and highlight the continuing decline of conditions within our armed forces.

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Declan Power: 'Sorry saga left honourable man fighting for his reputation and liberty'

It might not be the end, or even the beginning of the end. But perhaps the news of Sergeant Maurice McCabe's recent settlement is the end of the beginning of a much-needed examination of the innards of the State.

Declan Power: 'It now seems that Brexit is emerging as the unintended catalyst that is fuelling the New IRA'

The tragic death of Lyra McKee during New IRA-inspired rioting in Derry serves to show a much more cynical and sinister approach by dissident republicans to seize the initiative from the authorities and mainstream republicans.

Aftermath: Armed police patrol outside a mosque in central Christchurch, New Zealand. Photo: Mark Baker/AP

Declan Power: 'It's time to protect ourselves from the seeds of extremism'

The horrific murders of 49 Muslim people attending Friday prayers at two Mosques in Christchurch will have rocked New Zealand to its core.

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Declan Power: 'Full probe into how she was radicalised would be revealing'

At this point in the Lisa Smith saga people are most likely perplexed as to how a woman from a typical Irish Catholic background got attracted to a violent and extremist form of Islam.

'The ability to plan and co-ordinate an event that included three target areas, the selection of strategically important transport hubs, and the effect of using Irish postage stamps indicate strategic awareness of a high level and not erratic thinking.' Photo: PA

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Declan Power: 'The question we must ask is who will gain most from this attack?'

The important question investigators are asking in the aftermath of the recent London explosive incidents is who gains from this? In any type of analysis of this situation it must start from that point and roll backwards. For those of us with experience of containing militant republican violence in the past, the events in London seem nearly too well packaged.

Police officers secure the area at the scene of a security alert in Southway, Derry. Photo: REUTERS

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Declan Power: 'Terrorists focus on rebranding to snare young via social media'

The bomb in Derry achieved its objective, there can be no doubt of that. The objective was not to specifically kill, but to attract attention. Over the last 48 hours, the world's media have been talking extensively about the 'New IRA'.

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Declan Power: 'Wake-up call that proves more checks required before the State bestows gift of Irish citizenship'

Reports that an Irish citizen was captured fighting for Isil (Islamic State) in Syria are not too surprising considering just over two years ago a native-born Irishman, Terry 'Khalid' Kelly, was killed carrying out a suicide attack for Isil in Syria.

Free tech on offer to block out extremist messages

New technology has been created that will allow governments across Europe to track and block extremist internet content.

Israeli soldiers guard on top of a watch tower in a community along the Israel-Gaza border. Photo: AP

Israel's bloody quelling of protest will lose support for fight against Hezbollah

This week's carnage in Gaza seems like another imbalanced confrontation between the Israeli state and Palestinians, but these recent deaths must be examined from the perspective of rising tensions between Iran and Israel.

Declan Power: What does Irish 'neutrality' mean in the realm of international relations in 2018

So let’s get to grips with ‘Neutrality’, as it’s probably the most misunderstood and distorted word ever used in Hiberno-English.

A man touches a newspaper displaying a photograph of the aftermath of the terror attack in Las Ramblas

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Alarming ambition shown by terrorists who were bent on wreaking havoc

The attack in Barcelona was no real surprise, in terms of following a defined path similar to other Isil-inspired attacks. However, what is new is the level of ambition displayed. This wasn't just a man or two men in a white van casually trying to kill as many western tourists as they could.

Newly promoted Assistant Commissioner Pat Leahy

Comment: How school teachers, as well as unarmed police, can kick-start fight against terrorism

School teachers and religious leaders, as well as unarmed police, will become crucial tools in the battle to counter terrorism.

Appropriate recognition and response training would ensure patrol gardaí can better protect their own lives and those of the general public by responding in a way not anticipated by the terrorist. Stock picture

Talks of terror in Ireland? Focus should be on training patrol gardaí who are first to the scene

A lot has been uttered and written about whether the Garda force has the right training at the patrol level to respond to an Islamic extremist attack.