Nine gardaí assigned to Cork after Templemore passing out

NINE new gardaí will be stationed in Cork following the attestation of 157 new members of An Garda Síochána yesterday.

Eleven of the newly-sworn members will be allocated to the Southern Region, with three going to Anglesea St, two to Gurranabraher, two to Mayfield, one to Midleton and one to Mallow.

This allocation marks a considerable increase from previous graduations, with just one garda from a group of over 100 being allocated to Cork on two occasions last year.

One hundred and two new recruits will be stationed in the Dublin region, 38 in the Eastern region and six in the North Western region.

“More than 100 trainees to Dublin and less than 10 to Cork shows where the priorities of the authorities are in terms of policing,” Labour Party councillor Peter Horgan told The Echo.

“While there is an increase in trainees being assigned to Cork, it doesn’t reflect the scale of the issues.

“No allocation to the southside of the city given the constraints that frontline gardaí have explained that they face on a daily basis is simply unacceptable — the south city divisions, Togher, Carrigaline, Blackrock, and Douglas especially, are expanding in population terms but not in garda number terms.”

He continued: 

“It’s imperative that both the Commissioner and Minister for Justice come to Cork, not for a pre-arranged photo opportunity, but to speak with frontline gardaí and with real people affected by criminality in their communities.”

Of the new recruits, which included 12 from Cork, there were 102 men and 55 women.

The new gardaí have undertaken a blend of on-line learning, on-site learning in the Garda College, and experiential learning in training garda stations.

During their training these new probationer gardaí were involved in community-based policing, observed and assisted in serious crime investigations, policed across the country during St Patrick’s Day events, and assisted at community events, Garda Youth Awards ceremonies among other events.

The 157 newly attested gardaí bring to 710 the number of probationer gardaí attested since recruitment recommenced in 2022 after covid restrictions paused recruitment in 2020.

A further 294 garda recruits, two intakes, are currently undergoing the training programme at the Garda College, and the next intake of recruits is scheduled to enter the Garda College on July 1.

Speaking at the attestation, Commissioner Drew Harris said: “In applying to become a garda you took the first steps towards a rewarding and varied career. And now as you prepare to embark on the road ahead, it is important to remember the journey to where you are today. It has taken strength.

“It has taken dedication. It has taken a drive to succeed, and a desire to be of service. As gardaí it is your duty to maintain the highest standards. It is what the public expect and deserve, and what I expect too. Being a garda is a privilege and an honour.”