Naval Service Personnel Working Off Somalia!

[mikeym]

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...st-149485.html

Navy probes claims personnel moonlighting off Somalia coast
By Sean O’Riordan
Saturday, March 26, 2011

AN investigation has been launched into allegations that some naval service personnel have been moonlighting as security guards on cargo ships and oil tankers sailing off the pirate-ridden coast of Somalia.

The flag officer commanding the Naval Service, Commodore Mark Mellett, has written to the navy’s 1,000 personnel warning them that anybody caught serving in any security capacity outside the force risks being disciplined.

Sources have indicated that some naval personnel have been using their "leave" to work as anti-piracy protection personnel on ships passing off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, The work, even on a short-term basis, is described as "highly lucrative".

A spokesman for the Defence Forces confirmed that the naval authorities are investigating a claim "that a small number of serving personnel have been involved in inappropriate off-duty employment".

It’s understood the investigation is being handled by navy management, but Military Police may be called in to aid them.

"The investigation is at an early stage and consequently it would be inappropriate to comment further on the matter," the Defence Forces spokesman added.

Defence Forces regulations stipulate: "When a member of the Defence Forces is engaged in off-duty employment which is likely to prove detrimental to the best interests of the service, measures may be taken to terminate or limit the scope of such employment."

The Combined Maritime Forces, which is responsible for tackling piracy off Arabia and East Africa, is made up of warships from 25 nations including China, Britain and the USA.

However, the forces’ ships find it almost impossible to cover 2.5 million square miles of international waters containing some of the world’s biggest shipping lanes.

As a result many shipping lines are hiring their own onboard protection through private security firms.

In recent years private security companies have recruited a number of retired members of the Defence Forces, especially from the army, to carry out work in Iraq and Afghanistan.

However, this is believed to be the first time an investigation has been launched into serving members being recruited for such tasks.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, March 26, 2011

Looks like the wage cuts are having an impact.

[DeV]

allegations

investigating a claim

I wonder is the source the same as the allegations regarding the ARW last year?

[golden rivet]

who is sean oriordan

[RoyalGreenJacket]

i'm not being funny, but how is a member of the Irish Naval Service expected to 'pop out' to work - off the coast of feckin Somalia in the morning and be back home for tea?

i would certainly say there are many ex members of the Irish Naval Service providing security on ships but it would surely be very difficult for a serving member to do a bit of moonlighting in the Indian Ocean.

hardly doing a nixer on the doors of a Dublin nightclub at the weekend is it?!

[Jessup]

It could easily be done using Pre Discharge Leave, then "changing your mind" and coming back. It's feasible if somewhat fanciful. Quite a logical move from some exers, but not sure about any or many doing it while still on the books.

[DeV]

Or if you have 2/3 weeks leave

[Goldie fish]

http://forum.irishmilitaryonline.com...83&postcount=2

Ongoing.
I have definitely seen someones facebook photos of them working aboard tankers in the area, armed with a shotgun.
Whether they are still serving or not is unclear.

[hptmurphy]

The guy in question on face book is long since retired.

Also another former member took retirement in feb 2010 to do this type of work.

[hptmurphy]

Mr D'Arcy said a special relationship had built up between Sgt Byrne and staff at PC World. He had carried out work on the shop's alarm system. As a result, he was allowed discounts on certain products

they want to witch hunt Navy guys working outside the job but this guy freely admits to it it and gets €38,000.

Conflict of interests there.....was he certified by the Private Security Authourity to work on the stores alarm system..PSA site makes no mention of his liscence to do so....so both the Comapany he carried out for and himself are both liable for prosecution under the PSA legislation.

Didn't see too much in the papers about that fact!!!

[DeV]

Heard a couple of weeks ago it is €300 per day that you are on the vessel

[Rhodes]

Heard a couple of weeks ago it is €300 per day that you are on the vessel

Might take some leave myself and go for €300 per day.

[Goldie fish]

I heard (from someone in the know) that the walts who were putting themselves forward for this sort of work in the past, having attended a few bodyguard courses, and maybe learnt tactics at an airsoft activity weekend, have been found out by the agencies involved, and preference is being given not to gun nuts but to experienced seafarers, with good military heads. Because, unusually for naval personell, ours have frequently worked in an army role overseas, former Irish NS people have become popular with these agencies.

[Rhodes]

I heard (from someone in the know) that the walts who were putting themselves forward for this sort of work in the past, having attended a few bodyguard courses, and maybe learnt tactics at an airsoft activity weekend

A bit like your man Michael Dwyer in Bolivia.

[DeV]

I heard (from someone in the know) that the walts who were putting themselves forward for this sort of work in the past, having attended a few bodyguard courses, and maybe learnt tactics at an airsoft activity weekend, have been found out by the agencies involved, and preference is being given not to gun nuts but to experienced seafarers, with good military heads. Because, unusually for naval personell, ours have frequently worked in an army role overseas, former Irish NS people have become popular with these agencies.

I heard that second hand from a serving BA SNCO who is due for retirement shortly.

[hedgehog]

they want to witch hunt Navy guys working outside the job but this guy freely admits to it it and gets €38,000.

Conflict of interests there.....was he certified by the Private Security Authourity to work on the stores alarm system..PSA site makes no mention of his liscence to do so....so both the Comapany he carried out for and himself are both liable for prosecution under the PSA legislation.

Didn't see too much in the papers about that fact!!!

Aye

STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS.

S.I. No. 873 of 2007


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PRIVATE SECURITY (EXEMPTION) ORDER 2007
The Private Security Authority, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 3(2) of the Private Security Services Act 2004 (No. 12 of 2004), hereby makes the following order:

1. This Order may be cited as the Private Security (Exemption) Order 2007.

2. In this Order¬

"Act" means the Private Security Services Act 2004:

"Authority" means the Private Security Authority:

"certificate" means a document issued by a certification body and certifying that a person has attained the standard to be observed by the holder of an installer (intruder alarm) licence;

"certification body" means a body recognised in writing by the Private Security Authority as competent to issue a certificate:

"installer (intruder alarm)", "installer (intruder alarm) licence" and "person" have the meanings given to them in the Private Security (Licensing and Standards) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 834 of 2005).

3. Subject to paragraph 4, a person (not being the holder of an installer (intruder alarm) licence) is exempt from section 37 (1) of the Private Security Services Act 2004 while performing the functions of an installer (intruder alarm) at a specified place or places for the purpose of establishing whether a certificate should be issued to the person.

4. Paragraph 3 does not apply unless the Authority has confirmed in writing that the person mentioned in that paragraph has complied with the requirements of paragraph _5.

5. Such a person must¬

(a) apply to the Authority for an installer (intruder alarm) licence,

(b) give the Authority such information as it requires in respect of the application,

(c) apply to a certification body for a certificate,

(d) communicate in writing to the Authority¬

(i) the name of the certification body,

(ii) the date of the application for a certificate,

(iii) the place or places where the person proposes to provide the security services concerned, and

(iv) the person for whom, and the date and times at which, those services are proposed to be provided,

and

(e) not be a person whose application for an installer (intruder alarm) licence would be refused by virtue of section 22(3) of the Act.

6. The Authority may cancel a written confirmation under paragraph 4 for good reason.

Given under the seal of the Private Security Authority,

21 September 2007.

MAURICE DOCKRELL,

Chairperson.

GERALDINE LARKIN,

Chief Executive.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

This Order exempts a person who provides security services as an installer (intruder alarm), at a specified place or places, from the provisions of Section 37(1) of the Private Security Services Act 2004, for the purposes of obtaining standards required to be observed by the Private Security (Licensing and Standards) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 834 of 2005), subject to that person complying with the requirements of this Order