Explainer: How does a garda media blackout work in the age of social media? Gardaí requested a media blackout during the Blanchardstown siege on Tuesday night but social media companies did not comply. By Niall O'Connor Wednesday 26 May 2021, 9:00 PM Wed 9:00 PM 35,998 Views 21 Comments Image: Niall Carson Image: Niall Carson A SIEGE IN Blanchardstown last night highlighted how media blackout requests from gardaí can be fraught with difficulties in an age of social media. Sieges and “barricaded individual” incidents are complex of policing operations with dozens of specialist gardaí involved, as witnessed in Dublin 15 on Tuesday. The successful resolution of that shooting and siege showed the importance of a negotiator and how they can turn a potential murderous situation into a calm surrendering to gardaí.