The debate on firearms use has been ongoing since the establishment of the Garda Síochána writes Darren Martin. The Garda Síochána is predominately an unarmed uniformed police force which has served and protected its citizens through the early years of the State, emerging from the violent struggle post-independence, the establishment of the Free State, the civil war, the threats posed […]
Declan Smyth outlines the close link between the census and policing Members of An Garda Síochána delivered and collected forms in the first census taken by the Irish Free State in 1926; as the police force had done in Ireland under British jurisdiction since 1821. The role of the Force was rolled back for the 1951 census when postmen were […]
The third general secretary of the Garda Representative Association has quietly retired, but not without leaving his own stamp on the Garda organisation, writes Neil Ward. PJ Stone retired on February 2nd 2016 after more than forty years’ service to An Garda Síochána; but it will not be his policing skills that he will be remembered for – but his […]
There are benefits to lifelong learning for members through third-level and in-service training courses writes Darren Martin. The Garda College never closed in the last few years; in-service training courses did continue. The college is now seeing the return of new garda members for the first time in many years, with an impressive number of people who still wish to […]
EDITORIAL: Members of this Association clearly did not want to commit to the new Lansdowne Road Agreement that continued the idea of working 30 hours for free each year; for a level of pay restoration that fell short of what those hard hours were worth for each member. That was the clear message when some 86.5% of a significantly high […]
EDITORIAL We have been once again united in our grief and sadness following the murder of Garda Anthony ‘Tony’ Golden. Our thoughts and prayers continue for his family, friends and colleagues. When we encounter such senseless violence and resultant loss it is an onerous task to mentally process such a tragedy; for the family and friends that will take much […]
Garda station closures removed the garda from the centre of rural communities, police numbers remain depleted and rural Ireland is abandoned. Why? asks John O’Keeffe. Those of us living in cities can often be accused of smugness when it comes to those who eschew rural life. While the country generally may still be suffering economic difficulties, urban dwellers have not […]
EDITORIAL: The true level of crime in Ireland is beginning to emerge; and politicians are beginning to see that the spin emanating Shatter/Callinan era is going to haunt the coalition as we approach the upcoming election. The country was told that garda station closures would release more gardaí for frontline policing and that the 139 stations to be closed had […]
EDITORIAL: A number of arrests were made following the protest against water charges in Jobstown, Tallaght subsequent to the Tanaiste being delayed in her car for two hours. In the follow-up investigation of this politically-charged event, gardaí needed to interview the identified protagonists under caution. This is an issue of operational policing, and as such, is a matter for the Garda […]
Greater accountability and a rising tide of assaults on our members have been the conversation of the past ten years. In policing issues affecting frontline gardaí these have been the big two causes of stress and consternation; and well documented across the public sphere. Being subject to investigation when you don’t actually know who has accused you and what you […]
