GARDAÍ DEPLOYED RECENTLY-ACQUIRED anti-drone equipment for the first time during the recent Keir Starmer visit to Cork, The Journal has learned.

It is understood that the Cork-based Armed Support Unit (ASU) members have been trained in the systems, and they were posted on high points at the city’s airport and elsewhere during the two-day visit this month. 

The use of the systems on Leeside because of the British Prime Minister’s presence was a proof of concept for how gardaí in the city will deal with upcoming presidency of the Council of the EU events. It was also the first real-world tryout of the technology for newly trained gardaí.

Teams located themselves on the roof of the multi-storey car park next to the Cork airport terminal to use the devices. 

It is understood that the Irish Defence Forces, who are also in the middle of training drone operators, were involved at some level in the operations. 

Garda counter-drone activity is being led by the Special Tactics and Operations Command (STOC) which is responsible for the national Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and the regional ASU. 

The Journal has learned that ASU teams across the country now have members who have been trained in the use of the garda-purchased equipment. 

Zelenskyy concerns

Ireland takes over the rotating presidency of the EU from July. Multiple high-level visits of foreign dignitaries are planned, including at the European Political Community (EPC) summit, which will see leaders of all EU member states gather in Ireland in October.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended last year’s EPC summit when it was held in Denmark.

There has been renewed focus on security around the summit and other events taking place as part of the presidency in the wake of the drone incursion that took place during Zelenskyy’s official visit to Dublin in December 2025.

An Garda Síochána had a limited number of counter-drone capabilities and in the past it used technology borrowed from other police forces. 

The vulnerability was highlighted during the visit of Zelenskyy when the French Gendarme, Portugal police and the PSNI provided equipment and expertise. 

Sources have said that a PSNI officer was present in Cork during the Starmer visit but it is not known if they were directly involved in the anti-drone deployment. 

Gardaí had made a formal request for the Irish Defence Forces to provide anti-drone equipment for multiple locations during the upcoming EU Presidency but the Defence Forces had told them they will only deploy the equipment to protect Baldonnel airfield.

There was then moves to source their own tech for the upcoming EU Presidency.  

Upcoming plans

Preparations for the massive security operation surrounding the EU presidency is being headed up by An Garda Síochána, the lead agency tasked with planning.

More than 40 events during Ireland’s presidency of the EU will need major security operations – with six of those requiring the highest possible level of military and police coverage. While Dublin is a major focus for those meetings, Cork is also set to host a large number of conferences. 

It is believed that the main summit for the EU Presidency will take place in Dublin city and that dignitaries will arrive by aircraft to Baldonnel Aerodrome and then travel into the city. 

The Irish Defence Forces’ counter-drone system is not a readily mobile unit – it can be disassembled and moved but not in a matter of minutes. It can only cover one location at a time. 

The military has begun training soldiers in the use of its equipment and has sent small groups to France for further focused tutoring by the manufacturers of the kit.

In a statement An Garda Síochána would not go into specifics and it repeated it’s previous comments that it is purchasing a large amount of capabilities ahead of the EU Presidency. 

“This includes significant investment in our counter-drone capability over the last 18 months.

“Speaking to the media last month, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said he was confident that An Garda Síochána has the capacity and capability to deal with drones up to the law enforcement standard across Europe,” the statement said.