Ireland and England went head to head in a UEFA Nations League soccer game at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on September 7th 2024. Due to the high risk nature of this fixture, the Garda Commissioner declared it an extraordinary event, meaning that leave could be cancelled for Gardaí to ensure enough resources were in place. In this episode, we follow those charged with policing this event in the days leading up to kick off and during and after the match. You'll get an insight in to the detailed pre planning that takes place, the many different specialist units involved, the wide reaching policing plan and we bring you inside the control rooms in Dublin city and the Aviva Stadium.

In this episode, the Garda Podcast follows those charged with policing the Ireland v England UEFA Nations

Every year, An Garda Siochana polices major events right across the country. From sporting fixtures to parades, from festivals to concerts, the policing of these events are a constant feature, particularly during the summer months. Although meticulous planning takes place to ensure each of these occasions run safely, some are seen as being more high risk than others and the level of planning is elevated. These events are categorised as extraordinary events. An extraordinary event can only be declared by the Garda Commissioner and means that leave can be cancelled for Gardaí to ensure enough resources are in place.

Once such event, which was catergorised as extraordinary in the Dublin region was the Ireland v England UEFA Nations League fixture which took place in the Aviva Stadium on

September 7th 2024. Despite the obvious rivalry on the field with a potential for tension in the stands, kick off time would be 5pm on a Saturday evening and the UK Prime Minister would be in attendance along with the Taoiseach, President of Ireland and other dignitaries.

In this podcast, we'll speak to those charged with the policing of this high risk event. We'll hear from the Chief Superintendent in charge, Gardaí receiving and seeing off thousands of fans in the airport, the motorbike escort team escorting the VIPs to and from the stadium and we'll speak with the Gold Commander overseeing the event from the control room.

An Garda Síochána, working with Europol and Eurojust, together with law enforcement and judicial authorities from around the world, have successfully dismantled an encrypted communication platform that was established for facilitating serious and organised crime perpetrated by dangerous criminal networks operating on a global scale.

On Monday 16 September 2024, as part of this International investigation, a coordinated International law enforcement day of action was carried out.

Séamus Boland, Detective Chief Superintendent with the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and Justin Kelly, An Garda Síochána’s Assistant Commissioner, Organised and Serious Crime feature in this episode and explain more about this significant operation.

The Garda Síochána Analysis Service (GSAS) is a national, operational support service that turns internal and externally sourced data into information and insight that supports investigations and management decisions within An Garda Síochána. In this episode, GSAS Director Sara Parsons details the highly specialist work undertaken by analysts in the service, including involvement in some of Ireland's most high profile cases.