Noel Conroy
No immunity for US agents
The Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy, has said two secret service agents who will travel with US President George W Bush on his visit to Ireland have not been granted immunity from prosecution in the event that they discharge their firearms.
Mr Conroy was speaking at a two-day European Chiefs of Police conference in Dublin dealing with the terrorist threat in the wake of the Madrid bombings.
Mr Conroy said the gardaí were in charge of security for the visit of President Bush and that anyone suspected of being involved in a criminal offence would be investigated and prosecuted if necessary.
Mr Conroy also said that the threat to Europe from Islamic extremists at the moment was high, but that in relation to Ireland it was much more reduced.
Speaking at the conference earlier, the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, confirmed that US security personnel travelling to Ireland with US President George W Bush will be armed and could open fire if they deem it is necessary to save life.
Mr McDowell said he did not believe the threat to Ireland from Islamic extremists was heightened by the forthcoming visit of the US President.
Mr McDowell added, however, that there was the potential for trouble at the forthcoming EU Accession Day meeting on 1 May.
