Landlord Brian Sproul said: "There's one or two people gone down with the
Blue Flu.
Further
Blue Flu actions are planned, as well as special protests focusing on events such as the Irish Derby and next month's first-ever staging in Ireland of the start of the prestigious Tour de France cycle race.
The GRA believes its "
blue flu" demonstration gets round a ban on strikes by police.
The GRA has stopped short of publicly threatening unofficial action or a "
blue flu" as in 1998 when thousands of officers phoned in sick.
The anger in the force is such that some form of action, including another
blue flu, cannot be ruled out.
He said he was confident that the general public would "mobilise" in support of gardai but would not be drawn on whether the force would consider another "
blue flu" strike.
A Garda source told the Irish Daily Mirror it is comparable to the infamous "
blue flu" - when thousands of rank-and-file officers protesting at pay conditions rang in sick on the same day in May 1998.
In May 1998, "
blue flu" resulted in thousands of gardai up to the rank of inspector taking organised sick leave on the same day to compensate for the fact they do not have the right to strike.
As it is illegal for officers to engage in full stoppages, disruption similar to the "
Blue Flu" action some years ago is expected.
He said: "I will not lead a
blue flu campaign during my presidency." However, GRA general secretary PJ Stone insisted they will look at other ways of protesting at the "unjust and unfair" cuts.
Two years later he was also part of Real IRA gang that took advantage of the Garda
Blue Flu strike and staged a raid on a cash van outside Ashford, Co Wicklow.
Federation branches also warn they expect officers to take sickies for minor ailments - dubbed "
Blue Flu".
Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors president, Joe Dirwan last night said he would not rule out "
blue flu" action over the minister's plans.
However, strike action could include a stop to all armed escorts and an indefinite nationwide "
blue flu" walkout.
Prison officers have taken a dose of
blue flu and effectively brought the prisons to a halt.
