DOZENS of armed gardaí have gone on patrol in County Donegal to help protect Britain’s Prince Charles.
Some gardaí have been called in on their days off to help boost security with fears that some dissident terror gang members or their supporters will try to disrupt Wednesday’s visit which has been hailed as another step in the peace process.
“There are some people in the county who aren’t happy with the visit and we are determined it will not be disrupted,” said a senior security source.
Gardaí have been planning for the event for weeks. Roads will be closed in Letterkenny and Donegal Town to minimise the threat to Charles and his wife Camilla.
Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan has told gardaí the visit is an ‘extraordinary event’ so they are being brought into work in on their days off as part of the huge security operation.
Gardaí from throughout the country are being re-deployed in Donegal from last night.
Charles (67) and his wife Camilla (68) are expected in the North today during their three-day stay.
They visited Sligo last May.
Security checks have been carried out on LYIT where Charles is due to make a speech on Wednesday and at several locations in Donegal Town. The royal couple are due to visit Magee’s.
Gardaí have spent recent weeks checking the routes which will be used, with visible armed patrols stepped up since Sunday.
They are also monitoring the movements of a number of dissident terrorists based in the county.
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