Gardaí to expand and extend taser pilot programme

A taser pilot programme introduced by gardaí last December is to be extended for a further six months and expanded to include the Limerick division, as latest figures show tasers have been used 15 times since the programme began.

The pilot programme, which was launched late last year, saw tasers issued to frontline uniformed gardaí in Store Street, Pearse Street and Kevin Street garda stations in Dublin, as well as at Waterford.

The programme is now being expanded to Limerick and is being extended for a further six months.

So far, 167 gardai have been issued with tasers.

Gardaí said that since December 2025, tasers were used 15 times and of these there were three discharges, five where the taser was drawn and armed and seven where a person had the taser's laser pointed at them.

In seven cases, there was an arrest and charge. One person fled the scene and was not caught, while three others were detained under the Mental Health Act.

One person was also taken to hospital, but gardaí said this was not "related to the use of Garda force".

All three discharges were referred to the police ombudsman, Fiosrú, as per garda policy.

In one situation, gardaí were called to a report of domestic violence, where a woman said that she and her son had been assaulted by her former partner, including both having been bitten by him.

The man became aggressive when gardaí approached him, but stood down after one of the gardaí drew their taser from its holster. He was then arrested and subsequently charged.

Deputy Commissioner, Security, Strategy and Governance, Paul Cleary said the pilot programme has "demonstrated the effectiveness of the taser as a de-escalation tool".

"It has also been welcomed by gardaí and local garda management as providing additional protection to our personnel who have to deal with a wide variety of potentially violent situations on a daily basis," he added.

All gardaí with tasers undergo a three-day training course, and tasers are only deployed where gardaí are using body cams.