The Garda’s elite armed SWAT unit was called in to provide a gun guard for the Katie Taylor fight.
The Mirror has learned the Emergency Response Unit went undercover in the crowd in Dublin for Saturday night’s face-off between superstar Katie and Chantelle Cameron.
An insider said: “There was a policing plan for the event and the ERU was central to it.”
READ MORE: Katie Taylor shares emotional moment with her mother Bridget after crushing loss
The hyped event passed off without any major incident. Sources said the ERU, who are specially-trained to take on gangsters and terrorists, were drafted in.
They were there to protect the fighters as well as the 9,000-strong crowd – over fears gangsters could turn up and cause trouble.
It’s understood there were significant fears that members of the Kinahan cartel that are still in Ireland could attend the bout – and that’s why the ERU was there.
Sources said the specially-trained gardai were on the lookout for major Kinahan players – but only spotted smaller fish.
The insider added: “But local detectives [from Store Street Station] were also present, as were members from the Armed Support Unit.”
Gardai write a policing plan for all major events, but it is rare for so many armed officers to be drafted in.
The bout was the first major boxing event to be held in Ireland since the Regency Hotel attack in February 2016 in which David Byrne, 33, was shot dead.
READ NEXT:
- Young man, 30s, opened up on the shocking moment he suffered huge stroke out of the blue
- Katie Taylor comes up just short against Chantelle Cameron in Dublin
- RTE's Maura Derrane looks stunning in bright summer dress - and it costs less than €50
- Dozens of motorcyclists gather to remember Longford crash victim
- Lotto results: Nearly 100 players take home hefty sum in Lotto Plus Raffle
Get news updates direct to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here
