Mandatory sentences needed for people who attack gardai, Simon Coveney says in wake of Wicklow unrest

They are attacking a key institution of the State, and we have to make sure as a government that we protect An Garda Síochána as best we can and give very clear signals that it is not acceptable to assault a guard.

If you attack someone in uniform who is trying to protect society, then you are attacking the State. And in my view, we need to have very clear consequences for that. And I think we should be open to looking at mandatory sentencing.

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