Varadkar still given Garda protection - seven months after quitting as Taoiseach

Leo Varadkar is still being given armed Garda protection – even though he quit as Taoiseach more than seven months ago, it has emerged.

The Irish Mirror has learned that the former Fine Gael leader is still being ferried around in an official Garda car – with an armed protection officer as a driver.

Mr Varadkar, 45, would normally have had his Garda security removed when he resigned as Taoiseach in April – but senior officers took the decision to maintain his armed protection officer as well as a force BMW saloon.

Sources say bosses took the decision to keep the armed garda with Mr Varadkar because they believed there was still a significant threat to him from far-right activists. Sources last night stressed to the Irish Mirror that this was not a perk – but a reflection of Garda assessments of the threats facing Mr Varadkar.

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All former Taoisigh used to keep their armed driver and Garda car after they left the post – but the practice was discontinued in 2011 at the height of the financial crisis gripping the country at the time.

But gardai believe there is still a risk against the former Taoiseach – who is a hate figure for elements of the far right – and bosses have directed that an armed detective from the Ministerial Protection Unit, part of Liaison and Protection based at Garda HQ in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, guard him full time.

That unit is tasked with protecting cabinet ministers, senior members of the judiciary and other VIPs – including Mr Varadkar.

Mr Varadkar declined to comment when contacted by the Irish Mirror yesterday. And gardai say they do not comment on security for individuals. But sources told us the decision to keep an armed bodyguard was taken after a risk assessment.

“The assessment was that there was still a requirement for the MPU to look after him,” a source said last night.

News of the armed guard for Mr Varadkar comes just months after the Irish Mirror revealed gardai foiled a plot to kill him when he was serving as Tánaiste.

A gang of far-right extremists were in the process of procuring firearms for the murder bid when gardai became aware of their plot – and moved to increase security around Mr Varadkar in early 2022. The gang behind the plot included a former soldier – who was the planned shooter.

Sources say that man is not a former Irish Defence Forces soldier – but was a one time member of an elite foreign outfit.

The plot was uncovered when Mr Varadkar was acting as Tánaiste in early 2022, as part of a rotating Taoiseach deal with Fianna Fail.

He had been Taoiseach from June 2017 to June 2020 – and had extra Garda security in that time.

All ministers have a Protection Officer, but serving Taoisigh also have an armed Special Detective Unit escort car.

That escort car was taken off him when he became Tánaiste in the Fine Gael/Fianna Fail deal – and he reverted to having one protection officer, who also acts as a driver.

But Garda intelligence became aware of the plot to target him in early 2022 – and reinstated the SDU escort.

We have also established that Mr Varadkar was personally briefed by senior gardai about the threat posed to him by the former military fighter.

“He was briefed about that man,” a source told The Mirror.

Sources also said gardai disrupted the plot and the gang realised they had been rumbled and abandoned their scheme.

News of the decision to keep armed protection on Mr Varadkar also comes a week after we revealed that gardai are increasing security for Taoiseach Simon Harris and two other cabinet ministers.

The extra security – with detectives armed with machine pistols and tasers – is being deployed after a top level review of protection.

The Taoiseach will now travel in a convoy of three Garda cars at all times.

More armed officers will also be deployed to protect Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman, who holds the integration and children’s affairs portfolio.

An SDU will be allocated to each of the three senior politicians on the orders of Michael McElgunn, who is the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Crime & Security Intelligence Service.

He is the senior officer in charge of State security.

The decision means that the Taoiseach will now travel in a convoy of three Garda cars at all times.

He already has an official limousine with an armed Garda driver from the force’s Liaison and Protection unit.

That protection officer currently has backup from two SDU officers in an escort car – who have access to semi-automatic pistols, tasers and Heckler and Koch MP7 machine pistols.

But Commissioner McElgunn has now decided Mr Harris will have a second SDU escort car – with two more armed detectives.

As well as Mr Harris, ministers McEntee and O’Gorman are also to get SDU escort cars, sources say.

At present, they – like all other ministers – have an official car and one armed Garda Protection Officer, who doubles up as a driver.

But the two ministers will now have an escort car at all times – with two armed detectives following them.

Gardai have been concerned about Mr O’Gorman’s personal security for some time – especially because of abuse he receives on social media.

The security has also been upgraded to outgoing Meath TD Helen McEntee because of her position of justice minister.

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