Arnotts security company also works IPAS centres
The private security company involved in the death of Yves Sakila outside Arnotts also works at IPAS centres across the country – and claims to have won awards for diversity, equity and inclusion.
By Hazen E Griffin
The private security company embroiled in the death of Yves Sakila outside Arnotts also works at IPAS centres across the country – and claims to have won awards for diversity, equity and inclusion.
Video footage from outside Arnotts on 15 May shows several Synergy Security Solutions staff pressing Yves Salika into the footpath as he cried in distress, eventually becoming motionless. Salika was pronounced dead a short time later.
The company, whose Britain-based directors arrived in Dublin last week amid a garda investigation, provides security at state international protection centres in Cork and Dublin.
Deeply embedded in the global security industry
Video footage of an IPAS centre in Ballyogan, county Dublin uploaded to YouTube last year shows signage confirming Synergy Security Solutions’ responsibility for securing the building.
The company has open job listings for security officers for premises in Whitegate and Clonakilty, county Cork. There are IPAS centres located in the immediate vicinity of both towns.
The jobs are entry-level positions requiring less than a year of experience.
In the listings Synergy boast about recent awards for “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion company of the year”.
The diversity and inclusion page on its website returns an “Oops!” error page reading, “Sorry, we couldn't find the page you are looking for.” Its corporate social responsibility page does the same.
The company has also published a visitor access policy for an IPAS centre on its site. “We would like to welcome you to the Direct Provision Centre. Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the following process and procedures,” it begins.
Under a heading of child safeguarding, the policy states, “IPAS operates an Adult & Child safeguarding policy for this accommodation centre to ensure the safety and welfare of all adults and children living here. “
Deeply embedded in the global security industry, Synergy Security Solutions claims to employ 1,500 security staff in Ireland, “securing” 2,500 sites.
It has expanded into Israel, as reported by Aontacht, and lists a base in the city of Herzliya on its Synergy Alliance site.
Synergy Security Solutions was founded after a merger between two smaller security companies and its managing director is Ken O’Reilly, who previously managed one of the two original companies.
Then taoiseach Brian Cowen praised the company at the time of a 2010 job announcement, saying, “This success story highlights the importance of innovation and smart thinking to the economy.”
Synergy Security Solutions declined to comment.
