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<strong>Garda</strong>_Nov_07_cover FINAL:<strong>Garda</strong>_Apr_07-cover 11/13/07 12:07 PM Page 1<br />
THE FORCE MAGAZINE SINCE 1923 VOLUME 35 NO. 9 NOVEMBER 2007<br />
GARDA REVIEW<br />
INTO THE FIRE<br />
PUBLIC ORDER TRAINING<br />
www.gra.cc
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VOLUME 35 NO. 9<br />
NOVEMBER 2007<br />
GARDA REVIEW<br />
Floor 5, Phibsboro Tower,<br />
Phibsboro, Dublin 7.<br />
Tel: 01-830 3533<br />
Fax: 01-830 3331<br />
E-mail: editor@gardareview.com<br />
Web: www.gra.cc<br />
EDITORIAL BOARD:<br />
Chairman: P.J. Stone<br />
Secretary: John Healy<br />
John Egan<br />
Donal Flannery<br />
Dave McMahon<br />
Tel: 01-830 3533<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Representative Association<br />
Views expressed in <strong>Garda</strong> <strong>Review</strong> do not<br />
necessarily reflect the policies of<br />
An <strong>Garda</strong> Síochána, the Representative<br />
Associations, the Editorial Board,<br />
or the Editor.<br />
EDITOR:<br />
Neil Ward<br />
COVER IMAGE: Training the Public<br />
Order Units. Picture by Neil Ward<br />
THE END OF AN ERA<br />
This month we say farewell to the last member of the Force to be trained in <strong>Garda</strong><br />
Headquarters, fondly known as the Depot. <strong>Garda</strong> Commissioner Noel Conroy has<br />
handed in the warrant card that he has carried since 1964, having served Ireland<br />
for over forty years; over half of the time that the Force has been in existence. We<br />
extend a tribute to him for his talent and dedication as both an investigator and a<br />
brave upholder of law and <strong>order</strong>. One of his final ceremonial duties was to<br />
oversee the presentation ceremony for the awarding of six Scott Medals for<br />
bravery; he himself received a silver Scott Medal when a Detective Inspector in<br />
1980. Throughout his career he has shown exceptional courage and determination.<br />
It has been said that he was the finest policeman and yet the worst politician to<br />
hold the highest rank in the Force. Noel Conroy would be the first to accept that<br />
he did not like the attention of the media or the platform of <strong>public</strong> speaking. He<br />
was too often overshadowed at press conferences, especially the many jointly held<br />
with then Minister Michael McDowell. The Minister would answer questions on<br />
his behalf.<br />
There was a lengthy period where we too believed that the then Minister for<br />
Justice saw himself in the role of <strong>Garda</strong> Commissioner. If we had any major<br />
complaint of this time, it was that the <strong>Garda</strong> Commissioner failed to deliver the<br />
leadership that we had hoped for, and that he would have had the temerity to<br />
suggest that he wanted real resources rather than allowing himself to be bullied<br />
into seeking a doomed-to-failure <strong>Garda</strong> Reserve. He might have used his not<br />
inconsiderable position to demand that his men and women were equipped with<br />
the most basic of tools for their job. We have witnessed the tenure of yet another<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Commissioner while our members remained without an effective and<br />
encrypted communication system, or an effective non-lethal deterrent from violent<br />
assault – such as incapacitant spray.<br />
It has often been remarked that the Force has undergone greater change under<br />
the auspices of Commissioner Conroy than at any time under his 16 predecessors.<br />
The sands have constantly shifted under his feet throughout his four-year tenure;<br />
he has been touted as the man who kept ‘a steady hand on the tiller’.<br />
He did navigate the ship into uncharted waters. He implemented many of the<br />
changes made under the <strong>Garda</strong> Síochána Act 2005; the introduction of the <strong>Garda</strong><br />
Síochána Inspectorate, the <strong>Garda</strong> Síochána Ombudsman Commission and the new<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Discipline Regulations. He weathered the storm of the reports of several<br />
tribunals. On his watch, there has been unprecedented recruitment and career<br />
advancement for both <strong>Garda</strong>í and civilian members of the Force with increased<br />
age limits for both recruitment and retention.<br />
But Noel Conroy was himself not a moderniser, he was old school, and that is<br />
why many of the changes have been imposed from outside of our ranks. Perhaps<br />
the biggest challenges of a new Ireland are yet to be faced. There is an upsurge in<br />
criminal gangs that have to be defeated; and while we have seen some significant<br />
progress in recent weeks we are still a long way off from a cure for this ill. The<br />
recruitment level from ethnic minorities and non-Irish nationals is failing to<br />
materialise in the numbers required to have a force truly representative of the new<br />
community. We now need to be truly modernised from within and outside: We<br />
need the resources and accommodation that befits a contemporary police service.<br />
Moreover, we now need a movement away from the<br />
measurement paralysis where the ‘return of work’ is a lone<br />
index of achievement. We need an imaginative revival of the<br />
Force’s origins, where the regular uniform units were at the<br />
core of both An <strong>Garda</strong> Síochána and our community.<br />
EDITORIAL<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 1
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NOTEBOOK/INDEX<br />
� GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007<br />
2<br />
NOTEBOOK<br />
WRITE TO REPLY<br />
By Kieran FitzGerald<br />
The <strong>Garda</strong> <strong>Review</strong> is seriously off the mark in<br />
suggesting that the <strong>Garda</strong> Síochána<br />
Ombudsman Commission sought to adjourn the<br />
inquest into the deaths of the Lusk Post Office<br />
raiders on some sort of a whim.<br />
In the October issue (Notebook) the <strong>Review</strong><br />
claims that the application by GSOC was “a<br />
mistake and disrespectful” to <strong>Garda</strong> Paul Sherlock who had been “gunned<br />
down in broad daylight in the same district where the raiders were well<br />
known.” The attack on <strong>Garda</strong> Sherlock was an abomination. But it should<br />
not be argued that the perpetration of a serious crime such as this should<br />
somehow influence any agency of the justice system to abandon its duty<br />
under the law.<br />
The <strong>Garda</strong> Ombudsman in this instance acted as the law requires it to<br />
do based on Section 25 of the Coroners’ Act 1962.<br />
Yes, the application was terribly late. The <strong>Garda</strong> Ombudsman<br />
immediately acknowledged that there had been a systems failure in its<br />
processing of complaints. It expressed its regrets and acknowledged the<br />
inconvenience and stress that could flow from the application.<br />
This incident should be seen in the context of more than 1,500<br />
complaints and inquiries, plus over 200 referrals from the <strong>Garda</strong><br />
authorities since its doors were opened in May.<br />
Having considered the application, the Coroner, Dr Farrell, rejected it.<br />
He cited, among other considerations, ‘the balance of administrative<br />
convenience.’ But it is a reality that strict adherence to legal process can<br />
indeed cause ‘inconvenience.’ These matters have to be seen a wider<br />
context.<br />
The reality is that stresses and strains were going to be inevitable once<br />
the Irish people, through their elected representatives, decided to<br />
empower an authority to oversee the conduct of the <strong>Garda</strong>í.<br />
Independent oversight is now - and will remain - a fact of life for<br />
policing in this State, unless and until the Oireachtas decides otherwise. It<br />
is necessary for both <strong>Garda</strong>í and the Ombudsman to try to understand<br />
each others’ sensitivities and above all to recognise each others’ duties<br />
and responsibilities.<br />
To suggest, as has been done in this instance, that the <strong>Garda</strong><br />
Ombudsman wants to ‘establish a fierce reputation’ as a ‘watchdog with<br />
sharp teeth’ is to give oxygen to a potentially dangerous fiction.<br />
It is important that <strong>Garda</strong>í be aware of what the <strong>Garda</strong> Ombudsman<br />
does and does not do. It does not prosecute <strong>Garda</strong>í. It does not punish<br />
<strong>Garda</strong>í. Its role is to search for the truth, based on evidence that is<br />
procured by lawful means, where concerns or complaints are raised about<br />
the conduct of members of the <strong>Garda</strong> Síochána.<br />
It is not for or against either ‘side’ in such incidents. It operates strictly<br />
within the law and in accordance with operational protocols that were<br />
worked out and agreed over a period of more than a year with the <strong>Garda</strong><br />
authorities. The law says that they must be the agreed roadmap for both<br />
organisations.<br />
The <strong>Garda</strong> Síochána Ombudsman Commission has engaged widely in<br />
dialogue across the <strong>Garda</strong> Síochána, through the Consultative Group<br />
which it established early in 2006 and frequently through the kind<br />
invitations of the various representative associations.<br />
This spirit of constructive dialogue should not be lost - but should be<br />
built upon for the future.<br />
Kieran FitzGerald is Head of Communications and Research,<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Síochána Ombudsman Commission<br />
index<br />
1 EDITORIAL<br />
4 PUBLIC ORDER<br />
11 COMMUNITY COMMITMENT<br />
12 NEW STATION: FINGLAS<br />
15 KERRY LIFE EDUCATION<br />
16 TIPPERARY TOWN<br />
25 TRANSPORT POLICE<br />
30 GARDA STORY<br />
32 ST PAUL’S AT 40<br />
39 MONEY TALKS<br />
40 INFORMER<br />
41 HISTORICAL SOCIETY<br />
43 LEGAL<br />
45 BOOK REVIEW<br />
47 GARDA SPORTSFILE<br />
51 COMPETITION<br />
53 PRIZE CROSSWORD<br />
55 IN THE JOB<br />
64 END FRAME
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CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2007<br />
4 INTO THE FIRE<br />
The instruction might be more hazardous<br />
for participants than deployment, but the<br />
need for fully trained <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong> units is<br />
greater than ever. Neil Ward reports.<br />
11 THE PERFECT KIT<br />
The GAA have launched an invaluable<br />
resource for coaches and would-be<br />
mentors. We have 10 to give away to<br />
those who will use them best.<br />
12 FINGLAS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE<br />
After a long campaign by members in<br />
Finglas a new site for a <strong>Garda</strong> station was<br />
secured. The building is set to be a<br />
flagship station. Neil Ward reports.<br />
15 KERRY GARDAÍ SUPPORT<br />
PREVENTION<br />
Kerry Life Education is a youth<br />
orientated initiative that is proactively<br />
going into primary schools to help<br />
students understand healthy life choices.<br />
16 WE’VE COME A LONG WAY<br />
Members in Tipperary district think it is<br />
typical of rural policing, and both operation<br />
anvil and an augmented traffic corps are<br />
paying dividends. Neil Ward reports.<br />
25 TRANSPORT POLICE<br />
Assaults against passengers, robbery,<br />
ticket fraud, drug dealing and<br />
terrorism…Just some of the tasks a<br />
transport police faces daily. Ireland is one<br />
of the few jurisdictions in Europe that<br />
doesn’t have one. June Caldwell reports.<br />
30 GARDA STORY<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> John Merrick walks the walk.<br />
32 LIFE BEGINS<br />
It probably wouldn’t happen if you tried<br />
to start now. Since the 1960s – without<br />
payment – <strong>Garda</strong>í from Cork gave their<br />
free time and annual leave to build a<br />
credit union. Neil Ward reports.<br />
39 MONEY TALKS<br />
Your pay is your most important asset,<br />
writes Martin Sheehan<br />
40 INFORMER<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> stories and views from around the<br />
country.<br />
41 GARDA HISTORICAL SOCIETY<br />
RETURNS<br />
With a lecture to celebrate the centenary<br />
of the theft of the ‘Irish Crown Jewels’.<br />
43 LEGAL<br />
Solicitor David Laffan looks at enduring<br />
powers of attorney.<br />
47 GARDA SPORTSFILE<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> sports news from around the<br />
country and sports clubs.<br />
51 COMPETITION<br />
Win a fully-installed satellite navigation<br />
system.<br />
53 PRIZE CROSSWORD<br />
The first two correct entries drawn in this<br />
month’s crossword will receive a<br />
Motorola MOTORIZR Z3 mobile phone.<br />
57 IN THE JOB<br />
The list is out…All the latest transfers,<br />
promotions and retirements.<br />
64 END FRAME<br />
A dying declaration<br />
VOLUME 35 NO. 9<br />
NOVEMBER 2007<br />
GARDA REVIEW<br />
The magazine is published by<br />
Dyflin Publications on behalf of<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> <strong>Review</strong> Ltd and printed by<br />
Turner’s Printing Co., Longford<br />
Dyflin Publications Ltd.<br />
Cunningham House,<br />
130 Francis Street, Dublin 8.<br />
Tel: 01-416 7900, Fax: 01-416 7901,<br />
E-mail: editor@gardareview.com<br />
EDITOR<br />
Neil Ward<br />
JOINT MANAGING DIRECTORS<br />
Karen Hesse, Philip McGaley<br />
EDITORIAL DESIGN MANAGER<br />
Layla Hogan<br />
ADVERTISEMENT DESIGN MANAGER<br />
Diarmuid O Connor<br />
DESIGN<br />
Suzanne Murray<br />
ADVERTISEMENT PRODUCTION<br />
CO-ORDINATOR<br />
Amina Ferradj<br />
ADVERTISEMENT DESIGN<br />
Colm Geoghegan<br />
Ciarán McBride<br />
REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS<br />
June Caldwell, Paul Golden<br />
EDITORIAL CONTENT<br />
All enquiries and submissions<br />
should be directed to The Editor, <strong>Garda</strong><br />
<strong>Review</strong>, Floor 5, Phibsboro Tower, Dublin 7.<br />
editor@gardareview.com<br />
ADVERTISING SALES<br />
Tony Doyle, Darragh Broe<br />
& Declan Murphy<br />
www.gardareview.com<br />
Dyflin Publications is a member of the<br />
Professional Publishers Association of Ireland<br />
CONTENTS/INDEX<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 3
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Training in 2004.<br />
Picture by Darren Martin<br />
GREATER NEED FOR PUBLIC ORDER TRAINING<br />
4 � GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007<br />
May Day 2004.<br />
Picture by Darren Martin
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INTO<br />
THE<br />
Public <strong>order</strong> policing is about<br />
being part of a well-drilled<br />
machine; where six members and<br />
their unit sergeant move as one. It<br />
is as close to operational drill as you can<br />
get. The difference between regular<br />
policing and the graduation to <strong>public</strong><br />
<strong>order</strong> policing, for any <strong>Garda</strong>, is<br />
essentially that you make no action or<br />
movement until commanded to do so, and<br />
no one works on their own.<br />
While there are six <strong>Garda</strong>í for each of<br />
the sergeants, these need not be a<br />
constant team as different people can<br />
make up the squad depending upon<br />
availability. The <strong>training</strong> is universal and<br />
the tactics interchangeable; it is designed<br />
so that all instructed members can<br />
function as a unit, whether they work<br />
together regularly or never before. As<br />
soon as the <strong>order</strong> is given members know<br />
the drill.<br />
Inspector Declan Downey is one of the<br />
senior instructors for all of the <strong>public</strong><br />
<strong>order</strong> units in the country, and he is fully<br />
operational in the DMR region. He said,<br />
“Members can be mixed and match and<br />
still operate as a unit.<br />
“This is the nature of <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong> units<br />
all over the world – the members are not<br />
autonomous and must act with clearly<br />
defined and practised roles; in a way not<br />
dissimilar to the tactics employed in the<br />
military.”<br />
PUBLIC ORDER TRAINING<br />
FIRE<br />
The instruction might be more hazardous for<br />
participants than deployment, but the need<br />
for fully trained <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong> units is greater<br />
than ever. Neil Ward reports.<br />
The baton and shield formations are not<br />
unlike those practiced by Roman legions<br />
two thousand years ago. It is kept as<br />
simple as possible for each individual, but<br />
collectively the tactics form a sophisticated<br />
means to break up violent dis<strong>order</strong> without<br />
resorting to lethal weaponry.<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong> units are engaged<br />
on a part-time basis, to be called on as<br />
required. There is a pool resource drawn<br />
from the regular uniformed units. Units<br />
are generally on standby in Dublin City<br />
Divisions on Friday and Saturday nights;<br />
Sundays, at Bank Holiday weekends, and<br />
increasingly in country towns and<br />
divisions too.<br />
Members are generally informed of a<br />
tour by a unit sergeant as to when they<br />
might be required, they are no longer<br />
eligible to be drawn from specialist units;<br />
even those who have been trained and are<br />
experienced in operations are ruled out as<br />
they can be called on at awkward times<br />
and more frequently – it can leave gaps in<br />
those specialist units. As people are<br />
transferred out of the regular uniformed<br />
units, more members have to be trained in<br />
<strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong>, as the need arises.<br />
Public <strong>order</strong> units are organised and<br />
trained on a regional basis; there is no<br />
full-time <strong>training</strong> facility so this facility<br />
has to be usually borrowed from the<br />
Defence Forces; with current capacity to<br />
train 60 members per week (in the DMR)<br />
GREATER NEED FOR PUBLIC ORDER TRAINING<br />
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Back L-R: Michael Kearney; Peter Divilly; Andy Hawkshaw; John Troy: Pat Byrne Front L-R: Paddy McMenaman;<br />
Stephen O’Mahony; Richard Shannon; Willie Howard; Colm Megan; Declan Downey; Pat Greensmith<br />
when the base in Gormanstown, Co.<br />
Meath, is available.<br />
In September a further 450 members<br />
were put through the <strong>training</strong> process to<br />
add to the 1,089 previously trained<br />
personnel, such is the demand for the<br />
units in an ever-increasing climate of<br />
<strong>public</strong> dis<strong>order</strong> after-hours in town and<br />
city centres and at soccer matches.<br />
The instructors themselves are trained<br />
for three weeks in Templemore; some<br />
then go on to the PSNI or to Manchester<br />
for further specialist courses.<br />
“Health and safety in the <strong>training</strong> are<br />
paramount”, said Declan Downey,<br />
“especially when missiles and debris such<br />
as blocks are being thrown, the dog unit<br />
and mounted unit are in full flow – and<br />
where we are <strong>training</strong> using petrol.<br />
“Petrol is used in <strong>training</strong>, but there are<br />
health and safety issues, so this type of<br />
practice should become tougher on the<br />
refresher courses. Training is often more<br />
hazardous than deployment; as that<br />
deployment can often entail sitting in the<br />
back of a van.<br />
“The advanced paramedics or Emergency<br />
Medical Technicians (EMTs) are vitally<br />
important in our <strong>training</strong> and<br />
deployments. They are well trained in all<br />
aspects and tactics, including petrol, that<br />
relate to <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong> incidents and are a<br />
vital component of <strong>Garda</strong> <strong>training</strong>, as<br />
they are there on the scene of any<br />
dis<strong>order</strong> with us.”<br />
The paramedics attend on a loose-<br />
“THIS IS THE NATURE OF<br />
PUBLIC ORDER UNITS ALL<br />
OVER THE WORLD – THE<br />
MEMBERS ARE NOT<br />
AUTONOMOUS AND MUST<br />
ACT AS WITH DEFINED<br />
AND PRACTISED ROLES”<br />
arrangement basis at present rather than<br />
through formal protocols, which are still<br />
to be formalised and finalised through<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> HQ.<br />
OPEN COMPETITION<br />
There has previously been a pre-selection<br />
course to determine whether candidates<br />
are fit enough to stand the physical nature<br />
of the duty. This year saw the<br />
introduction of the basic fitness test for<br />
all participants, of whatever rank, on the<br />
first day of each basic course. There is a<br />
lot of kit – the overalls, batons, shield,<br />
fire extinguisher, some carry gas masks,<br />
helmet, cuffs and body armour on the<br />
torso, arms and legs.<br />
Magpies like to collect stuff; and exmembers<br />
of the <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong> units have<br />
gained a reputation for holding onto their<br />
kit. Helmets are understandable, for<br />
health and safety (hygiene) reasons these<br />
are personally issued. The rest is reissued<br />
and recycled, as are the plastic<br />
PUBLIC ORDER TRAINING<br />
water bottles that are used extensively in<br />
<strong>training</strong> to provide distractions to the<br />
trainees.<br />
There is the blunt trauma body armour<br />
vest, helmet, gloves, baton, utility belt<br />
and a large <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong> shield. While the<br />
shields are not heavy in themselves if you<br />
are carrying it for an hour or more when<br />
having rocks thrown at you they get very<br />
heavy.<br />
Members in <strong>training</strong> are generally<br />
young and fit; <strong>training</strong> is arduous as it<br />
involves carrying the shield for the week.<br />
The average age for a <strong>Garda</strong> to be<br />
accepted for <strong>training</strong> is between 22 and<br />
30, while the sergeants tend to be in or<br />
around 35.<br />
Female members tend to demonstrate a<br />
greater drop out rate; which is often<br />
explained in terms of the need for upper<br />
body and lower back strength for the<br />
cumulative weight of carrying the kit –<br />
especially if shields can become too<br />
much. However, there are quite a<br />
considerable number of female members<br />
presently within the National Public<br />
Order Unit.<br />
The <strong>training</strong> is arduous. Anyone with a<br />
medical history – or in their immediate<br />
family – will not be considered; even<br />
members with old injuries that might<br />
recur and treated similarly.<br />
PRE-REHEARSED<br />
There is no additional payment; it is<br />
voluntary in that it is applied for through<br />
the usual channels. An open competition<br />
is held and members are invited to<br />
register their interest. When it comes to<br />
payment, overtime becomes payable if a<br />
member is called in on a rest day, and<br />
depending on the distance travelled it<br />
may become eligible for subsistence<br />
allowances.<br />
The deployment of <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong> units<br />
must always be based on the principles of<br />
Inspectors Declan Downey<br />
and Andy Hawkshaw<br />
GREATER NEED FOR PUBLIC ORDER TRAINING<br />
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proportionality and graduated response.<br />
This operates by regular uniform <strong>Garda</strong>í<br />
being deployed first, and the <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong><br />
unit is only used in the event that the<br />
regular uniform response is inadequate to<br />
deal with the level of unrest. The <strong>public</strong><br />
<strong>order</strong> response must be in proportion to<br />
the level of violence encountered.<br />
There is considerable time spent, and<br />
on many occasions, where members will<br />
complete a tour of duty sitting in a van.<br />
This is not a bad thing; it means that they<br />
are not required, but must be in position<br />
if there is an escalation of <strong>public</strong> dis<strong>order</strong>.<br />
The units wait in full kit; ready to go.<br />
Tactics are in place right down to the way<br />
that they are deployed from their marked<br />
vehicles. The line up is pre-rehearsed.<br />
The inspector and sergeants are the<br />
only ones equipped with radio headsets,<br />
so it is their role to relay the information<br />
to the members of the unit. Command<br />
ultimately comes from a Gold or Silver<br />
command; which Chief Superintendent<br />
Michael Feehan is qualified as. Chief<br />
Superintendent Michael Feehan and<br />
Superintendent John Roche are the two<br />
senior trained officers in <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong><br />
tactics and deployment in the country.<br />
The command centre would generally<br />
be located somewhere close to the event<br />
and would have a video downlink<br />
available from the <strong>Garda</strong> Air Support<br />
Unit, CCTV cameras, etc. Updates might<br />
“THAT DAY WAS A PERFECT<br />
EXAMPLE OF THE DIFFERENT<br />
MANOEUVRES REQUIRED<br />
TO TACKLE THE VIOLENCE<br />
OF A CROWD THAT HAS<br />
FAILED TO RESPOND TO<br />
UNIFORMED GARDAÍ”<br />
also be relayed from an inspector or<br />
superintendent on the ground.<br />
HIGH PROFILE<br />
Members of the dog unit are trained to<br />
the same standard, as are the <strong>Garda</strong><br />
Mounted Unit as they are often deployed<br />
together. Members of the <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong><br />
units must be fully trained to allow<br />
members of the specialist units to be<br />
deployed to the frontline, the attack dogs<br />
and horses are brought up through the<br />
lines as a means of clearing a hostile<br />
crowd. To produce a level of realism in<br />
<strong>training</strong>, members are bombarded with<br />
‘bricks’ (wooden blocks) and are sprayed<br />
with water as a constant<br />
distraction. All these<br />
water bottles are<br />
recycled; the carbon<br />
footprint is kept to a<br />
minimum.<br />
PUBLIC ORDER TRAINING<br />
In 2004, the Accession Day was the<br />
largest deployment of <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong> units.<br />
Declan Downey was on the Navan Road<br />
with many of the DMR and country<br />
Public Order Units that day. He said,<br />
“That day was a perfect example of how<br />
a <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong> unit works – and the<br />
different manoeuvres required to tackle<br />
the violence of a crowd that has failed to<br />
respond to uniformed <strong>Garda</strong>í.”<br />
At that time there was a great political<br />
demand for units; especially in 2003 and<br />
2004 when Ireland hosted the EU<br />
Presidency. Since then, the units had a<br />
high profile at the Love Ulster<br />
resurgence, and were deployed in<br />
substantial numbers for the Ireland versus<br />
England rugby international at Croke<br />
Park; though in the event they remained<br />
contained in their holding areas close to<br />
the events, in the vans.<br />
There is an increasing need for the<br />
units to be deployed in smaller numbers,<br />
more frequently. Cocaine-fuelled violence<br />
has crept into domestic soccer and is<br />
showing its face in both rural and urban<br />
areas at the weekends. GR<br />
GREATER NEED FOR PUBLIC ORDER TRAINING<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 9
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THE PERFECT KIT FOR<br />
GAA Coaching?<br />
By Neil Ward<br />
When I was handed a box<br />
containing a ‘Fun Do’ pack<br />
from the GAA I was<br />
unsure what I could write<br />
about it. I didn’t know what to do with it;<br />
yet after a week or two of looking over<br />
the contents I am genuinely excited that I<br />
am just the person to implement the<br />
<strong>training</strong> programme for the young people<br />
in my neighbourhood. What magic is<br />
contained within the waterproof, durable<br />
container that has filled me with<br />
confidence that I can make a real<br />
difference?<br />
I never played football or hurling, so<br />
the first time my father-in-law took me<br />
for a drink in the local GAA club I felt<br />
quite intimidated. I didn’t look anyone in<br />
the eye and I talked quietly within my<br />
own gathering. Yet now, ten years later I<br />
am keen to become a coach, certainly a<br />
mentor, to one of the club’s youth teams.<br />
Sure, in the intervening years we have<br />
had three children, the eldest two boys<br />
are going up through the ranks and our<br />
daughter is keen to join them as soon as<br />
she passes her next birthday. The younger<br />
son played his first hurling and football<br />
exhibition match during the festival week<br />
when he was just 2 years and 10 months<br />
old. The Dubs are getting them younger<br />
now; expect great teams turning out in<br />
blue in 20 years time.<br />
Just to double check that I hadn’t been<br />
sold something from a medicine show;<br />
that I had not been duped into buying into<br />
an idea along the lines of the emperor’s<br />
new clothes, I took the pack up to the<br />
dedicated mentors from my son’s under<br />
8’s team – they liked the look of it and<br />
took it to the coach. Word came back that<br />
he was getting a little green eyed about<br />
the contents of this box.<br />
Each GAA Fun Do Learning Resource<br />
Pack is tailored for either gaelic football<br />
or hurling depending on the coach’s<br />
needs. Each pack contains an interactive<br />
DVD ROM, a skills DVD, a nursery<br />
DVD and supplementary manuals on,<br />
GAA Go Games, catch and kick coaching<br />
classes or lift and strike coaching classes,<br />
a coach handbook and a nursery manual.<br />
The DVDs are filmed by some great<br />
cameramen; and in many examples top<br />
players are filmed using a specialist slow<br />
motion camera borrowed from the sport<br />
of cricket. The players at the peak of their<br />
talents are shown doing all the basic<br />
skills correctly, and in slow motion. The<br />
manual then tells you all you need to<br />
teach these skills and some fun games<br />
and their rules to get young people<br />
moving in the right way to improve their<br />
basic balance and co-ordination. Things<br />
you can’t be taught when you have<br />
passed through puberty and into<br />
adulthood.<br />
“We wanted a Resource Pack for<br />
people who are coaching kids,” explains<br />
Pat Daly,Director of GAA Games. ”We<br />
decided to fuse technology, sport,<br />
education and health and bring them all<br />
together in a manner that would ensure<br />
kids were being introduced to the games<br />
in a quality way.<br />
“There are over four hours of top class<br />
video footage on the DVD ROM. This<br />
footage is integrated with over 1,000<br />
activities between Hurling and<br />
Football all of which are<br />
complemented by a series of written<br />
manuals.<br />
“What we are<br />
trying to do is to<br />
facilitate people<br />
who are involved<br />
in coaching kids<br />
and thus ensure<br />
they’re doing the<br />
best job possible.<br />
“We are trying to<br />
ensure that the<br />
activities are<br />
referenced to<br />
childhood needs.”<br />
Tom<br />
Humphries wrote<br />
101 reasons why<br />
WIN A KIT<br />
football is better than soccer; and most of<br />
these can be applied to any sport where<br />
you compare an amateur game and a<br />
professional circuit. For me the best<br />
reason is that on a Monday morning a<br />
premiership soccer player might launch a<br />
new sportswear range or a new perfume;<br />
the GAA player might sell you meat in<br />
the butcher’s or teach your children – or<br />
police the streets. No contest.<br />
We have 10 packs to give away; but we<br />
want to know that they have gone to a<br />
good home and we can get some<br />
feedback on their use.<br />
An <strong>Garda</strong> Síochána has such a long<br />
tradition of involvement with the<br />
community and the GAA. I know of at<br />
least one <strong>Garda</strong> Juvenile Liaison Officer<br />
who is single-handedly credited with<br />
reviving his local club in a rural area;<br />
every passing out parade features many<br />
probationers who have dedicated their<br />
free time and energy to coaching<br />
community teams. Such is the bond.<br />
The GAA have spent over €½million<br />
creating this resource; so each pack has a<br />
physical price of €100 – but its value is<br />
priceless. We are keen to get our 10<br />
packs into the right hands; there is no<br />
such thing as a free lunch – we want<br />
applications in the form of a written letter<br />
and we want to follow the individual<br />
stories as the packs get out there.<br />
Send your letters to The Editor at the<br />
usual address before Friday, 7th<br />
December 2007 and we will do our best<br />
to have the packs out before Christmas.<br />
Include a telephone number.<br />
For more information check out<br />
www.gaa.ie GR<br />
COMMUNITY COMMITMENT<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 11
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NEW STATION FOR FINGLAS ahead<br />
After a long campaign<br />
by members in Finglas<br />
a new site for a <strong>Garda</strong><br />
station was secured.<br />
The building is set to<br />
be a flagship station.<br />
Neil Ward reports.<br />
NEW STATION: FINGLAS<br />
12 � GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007<br />
The new station in Finglas is well<br />
under way and progressing<br />
towards completion ahead of the<br />
scheduled finish next summer.<br />
There are currently around 75 members<br />
working in the station on the North Road,<br />
and they will be transferring to the<br />
Mellowes Road station that has been built<br />
to accommodate the predicted 130 <strong>Garda</strong>í<br />
necessary to police the sub-district in the<br />
next 20 years.<br />
Members threatened a walk out of the<br />
current station in 2005, after a 20-year<br />
campaign failed to get Finglas <strong>Garda</strong><br />
station replaced or re-developed. The<br />
station party threatened to take protest<br />
action and pull out of the station and<br />
report to the district headquarters in Cabra.<br />
This was the third time that members had<br />
threatened to walk out in a 20-year<br />
campaign for suitable accommodation;<br />
nine sites all proved unsuitable,<br />
unfavourable or not available until the new<br />
site on Mellowes Road was proffered.<br />
GRA Representative <strong>Garda</strong> Dave Levins<br />
said, “As the senior man I was prepared<br />
to lead them out of the station – and I<br />
will lead them in to the new one. We are<br />
delighted that a new station is becoming a<br />
reality.”<br />
Dave Levins praised the courage and<br />
commitment in the face of adversity by<br />
those younger members who were<br />
prepared to protest at conditions to the<br />
extent that they are allowed under<br />
legislation.<br />
“We have a high turnover of staff in<br />
Finglas. There are few senior members in<br />
Finglas, yet it was the fortitude of the<br />
members who were prepared to walk out<br />
of this station that secured the new<br />
development.<br />
“The forward management experts<br />
from <strong>Garda</strong> Headquarters have suggested<br />
that the strength of the station party for<br />
Finglas in 2025 will need to house 130;<br />
nearly double.<br />
“The new station is planned and being<br />
built for the population of Finglas subdistrict<br />
and the station party so that it is –<br />
for the first time – it appears to have been<br />
done right. The time has been taken to
<strong>Garda</strong>_Nov_07_p12-13:<strong>Garda</strong>_Mar_07-p4-29 11/9/07 11:02 AM Page 13<br />
Artist’s impression of the<br />
‘future-proofed’ station<br />
of schedule<br />
get the formula right.”<br />
The current building accommodated<br />
fifty people in the 1980s, whereas the<br />
staffing level grew to 75 by 2000. The<br />
station was regressing while Finglas was<br />
rapidly developing. Members complained<br />
that they were not given the very basic<br />
tools of their trade – even the parade<br />
room was been earmarked to become a<br />
CCTV room.<br />
Violent prisoners still have to be<br />
brought in through the <strong>public</strong> reception<br />
area – watched by members of the <strong>public</strong>.<br />
The station suffered from a total lack of<br />
space and facilities. There is nowhere to<br />
talk to anyone in confidence or victims of<br />
crime. Any offices that we have are used<br />
for dual purposes and anyone is likely to<br />
walk in on any private conversation. This<br />
is set to change. The new station will<br />
have they a custody suite appropriate for<br />
a busy station; six cells and two detention<br />
areas are being built close to the station<br />
<strong>order</strong>ly.<br />
The new divisional stores, with<br />
reinforced concrete walls, is being<br />
purpose built to best European practice. It<br />
will store all property that comes into<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> possession, including guns.<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> rank and file were represented at<br />
the planning stages and so far are<br />
satisfied that everything they asked for<br />
has been considered and provided. “We<br />
will have everything that we need to<br />
police an area like this”, said Levins, “As<br />
long as we are left to do our job, the new<br />
station should be suitable for the next 30<br />
or 40 years. For once they got the<br />
formula right and hopefully they won’t<br />
mess with it.<br />
“It’s good the people of Finglas to see<br />
that they are getting a state of the art<br />
police station and management are taking<br />
the area seriously. They have the space to<br />
increase the manpower; what we don’t<br />
need is to be weighed down with<br />
specialist units.”<br />
Finglas <strong>Garda</strong> station has had asbestos<br />
tiles removed since 2003 and some<br />
security features were installed as <strong>Garda</strong><br />
cars were damaged. On one occasion the<br />
wheel nuts were loosened on the front<br />
FINGLAS<br />
Reinforced concrete walls<br />
for the new divisional stores<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Dave Levins<br />
checks on progress<br />
nearside wheel of a member’s car, and the<br />
wheel came off as he drove home.<br />
There new station is set to provide<br />
enough secure parking spaces for the<br />
station’s needs, and the layout has been<br />
allocated with sufficient space for future<br />
expansion. Though there are concerns<br />
that they high level of camaraderie and<br />
sense of belonging will be reduced as<br />
members escape the adverse conditions<br />
that so often unite them.<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Dave Levins said, “We have<br />
always had tremendous morale in the<br />
station and some of that might inevitably<br />
be lost in a modern station; but at least<br />
we will have the facility to do our job.<br />
The camaraderie might not be the same,<br />
but it’s a price we will happily pay.<br />
“It’s a more professional and<br />
appropriate building. Finglas has rapidly<br />
expanded, there has been a colossal<br />
building programme; both residential and<br />
commercial. Industrial estates now stretch<br />
from the city to the airport through the<br />
district and new shopping centre,<br />
Charlestown, as just opened.”GR<br />
NEW STATION: FINGLAS<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 13
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“ By the age of 15, young people<br />
have largely formed their attitudes<br />
and if they are incorrectly formed<br />
it is hard to alter them,” said<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Tim O’Connell, “That’s why we are<br />
supporting this initiative in Kerry.<br />
“It’s easy for an adult to tell a child to<br />
just say ‘no’; but from a child’s<br />
perspective that is not always easy or<br />
straightforward. They have to be equipped<br />
with the coping mechanisms and life skills<br />
to be able to do that.”<br />
Kerry Life Education is a youth<br />
orientated initiative that is proactively<br />
going into primary schools to help<br />
students understand healthy life choices.<br />
It is one segment in an overall response<br />
to the issues of substance misuse, group<br />
dynamics such as peer pressure and<br />
bullying; and healthy living.<br />
Life Education is an internationally<br />
recognised organisation operating in 15<br />
countries; in a way Kerry have bought in<br />
to a franchise and adapted it to an Irish<br />
perspective. Two fully equipped mobile<br />
units (each costing €120,000) are now<br />
accessed through the primary school<br />
network by over 16,000 young people<br />
each year.<br />
Kerry <strong>Garda</strong>í are on of the main<br />
supporters of the initiative, with juvenile<br />
liaison officer Tim O’Connell also filling<br />
the role as press officer for the<br />
programme.<br />
He said, “Life education is one<br />
dimension of a multi-agency response to<br />
the serious issues of alcohol and drug<br />
misuse.<br />
“It allows children to explore in their<br />
own way. The language used is different<br />
for children of different ages; and there are<br />
different interactive teaching techniques<br />
used from puppetry to role play. The state<br />
of the art unit has a nightscape built in,<br />
showing the stars – and good ways of<br />
making you more energetic.”<br />
The point behind this is that it lays the<br />
foundation blocks to a more advanced<br />
learning as children go through the years.<br />
Two professional trained educators deliver<br />
an age-appropriate message; they start of<br />
with children in first class and they talk<br />
about the importance of brushing teeth; the<br />
importance of sleep and what it does for<br />
your body. Then it progresses to nutrition.<br />
Children are taught that if they don’t<br />
like fruit and vegetables they can be<br />
LIFE EDUCATION INITIATIVE IN KERRY<br />
KERRY GARDAÍ SUPPORT PREVENTION<br />
Back L-R: Cllr. Sheila Casey; Ursula Coffey (Principal Holy Cross Primary School); Supt Pat O Sullivan; Inspector Joe<br />
Moore; Supt M Maher; Mike Frank Russell (Holy Cross Primary School); Chris Barrow (Kerry Life Manager); Chief<br />
Supt Liam Hayes; Cllr. Sean O Grady; Inspector Donal Ashe. Front L-R: <strong>Garda</strong> Tim O Connell, J.L.O. with primary<br />
school students of Holy Cross Primary School and Seamy Whitty with ‘Harold the Giraffe’.<br />
Superintendents John Riordan and M O’Donnovan were unable to attend on the day for the photographs<br />
eaten in different ways and made more<br />
interesting; such as through smoothies.<br />
Older children are taught about how<br />
blood moves around the body; and what<br />
cigarettes actually do to the bloodstream<br />
and organs. Children typically spend<br />
around 40 minutes in the unit, the focus of<br />
life education. Other work is carried out<br />
both before and after in the school and<br />
each class in each school receives at least<br />
one visit from the unit every year.<br />
The long-term objective is to develop<br />
something similar for the secondary<br />
schools.<br />
Chief Superintendent Liam Hayes<br />
recently visited one of the mobile units<br />
and continued <strong>Garda</strong> support for the<br />
project. He said, “Kerry Life Education is<br />
providing a very appropriate preventative<br />
educational response to drug and alcohol<br />
issues.<br />
“Furthermore it also includes parent<br />
sessions so in essence it is a very<br />
impressive all-inclusive family response<br />
and deserves the full support of An <strong>Garda</strong><br />
Síochána.”<br />
It has been proved in the UK, and now<br />
Kerry has two units operating across the<br />
county. Tim O’Connell said, “The<br />
schools are incredibly satisfied with it.<br />
Word of mouth is recommending it<br />
around the county, and we imagine that it<br />
will become a national programme.<br />
“Bullying is a big issue within schools<br />
and this teaches children a mechanism to<br />
deal with peer pressure and aspects of<br />
bullying. It explains methods of dealing<br />
with sadness; or how to say no in a<br />
comfortable way. Proper life skills.<br />
“It’s a very exciting and innovative<br />
project.”<br />
Ursula Coffey is Principal of Holy<br />
Cross Primary School in Killarney. She<br />
said, “The system of education is really<br />
effective in the way that it operates. All<br />
of the programmes are progressive and<br />
relevant to each young person’s life. It<br />
allows the young person to explore issues<br />
such as how consuming substances<br />
affects our bodies and minds, the issue of<br />
bullying, nutrition and decision making.<br />
The proof of how effective this<br />
programme is that year after year, the<br />
children are excited and enthusiastic about<br />
the visit of the mobile unit. It is one of the<br />
highlights of our academic year.”<br />
Con Cremin, Chairman of Kerry Life<br />
Education explained how the programme<br />
was developed. He said, “We organise an<br />
annual national conference around the<br />
themes of substance misuse.” Previous<br />
conference speakers included Philomena<br />
Lynott, mother of the late Phil Lynott and<br />
Barbara Best McNarry, sister of the late<br />
George Best.<br />
The 2007 conference was co-hosted<br />
with the Southern Region Drugs Task<br />
Force, Minister Pat Carey attended and<br />
was ‘extremely impressed’ with Kerry<br />
Life Education. GR<br />
LIFE EDUCATION INITIATIVE IN KERRY<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 15
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Unit A L-R: <strong>Garda</strong> Niall O’Halloran, Mary Dorgan,<br />
Pat Naughton and Martin Taggart<br />
we’ve come a<br />
LONG WAY<br />
Members in Tipperary district think it is typical of rural policing,<br />
and both operation anvil and an augmented traffic corps are<br />
paying dividends. Neil Ward reports.<br />
TIPPERARY: A LITMUS TEST FOR CONTEMPORARY RURAL POLICING<br />
16 � GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007
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Tipperary town is growing now, but<br />
for several years it looked as if<br />
the Celtic Tiger was going to<br />
bypass it. Now there are new<br />
housing estates being built, the<br />
construction started in the last two to<br />
three years. This was the first major new<br />
private housing to be built, and three<br />
major supermarkets have followed.<br />
“It’s not industry that is bringing<br />
people to Tipperary because unfortunately<br />
we don’t have any. We have only one<br />
factory left”, said Sergeant Don Mitchell<br />
i/c, “Most of it is a dormitory town for<br />
Limerick. It is a commuter town that has<br />
a lot of empty properties during working<br />
hours.<br />
“But Tipperary district has one other<br />
huge advantage – it has probably the<br />
shortest commuting time to Dublin,<br />
Limerick and Cork than almost anywhere<br />
in the country. At the moment you can get<br />
a non-stop train to Dublin that takes<br />
about an hour and 40 minutes in the<br />
mornings.<br />
“It gets into Dublin about 10 o’clock<br />
which is perfect for anyone practising in<br />
the Four Courts. The proposal is that<br />
there will be a train every hour and that<br />
will make it more and more attractive;<br />
similarly to Cork.”<br />
Sergeant Don Mitchell has been<br />
attached to Tipperary Town <strong>Garda</strong> station<br />
since 1989; and has seen the dramatic<br />
changes in this time.<br />
A new station was built and opened in<br />
1993. The old station next door is being<br />
renovated and will become the national<br />
headquarters of the Private Security<br />
Authority (PSA) as part of the<br />
government’s decentralisation programme.<br />
This will further add to congestion in this<br />
area; especially with parking as some 40<br />
staff are expected to be employed there.<br />
SPACE<br />
Detective <strong>Garda</strong> John Keane is one of the<br />
district representatives for the GRA. For<br />
any member working in the station, they<br />
generally agree that the accommodation<br />
is not the biggest issue facing them; some<br />
of the sub-district stations are the ones in<br />
need of urgent attention.<br />
John Keane said, “This is a reasonably<br />
new two-storey station that was opened in<br />
1993. We have a lack of space here now,<br />
but what <strong>Garda</strong> station doesn’t have that<br />
problem. We have three detectives based<br />
in a small office. Parking is a big issue in<br />
Tipperary.<br />
“Parking is made awkward on the days<br />
TIPPERARY<br />
“PARKING IS MADE<br />
AWKWARD ON THE DAYS<br />
THAT THE CATTLE MARKET<br />
IS OPEN; TWO DAYS A<br />
WEEK RIGHT NEXT DOOR<br />
TO THE STATION”<br />
that the cattle market is open; two days a<br />
week right next door to the station. This<br />
station is not future-proof; but it is still<br />
serviceable.”<br />
The old station is a big building; that<br />
used to be shared between the <strong>Garda</strong>í and<br />
the Department of Agriculture (who<br />
occupied the former station sergeant’s<br />
living quarters). The new station was built<br />
in the yard; and some feel that the <strong>Garda</strong><br />
needs might have been better served by<br />
remaining in the old station; such is the<br />
size of the building.<br />
Don Mitchell said, “Now we are very<br />
short of space. Many vehicles are<br />
impounded under article 41 of the Road<br />
Traffic Act and there is nowhere to store<br />
them.”<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Tony Chearnley is one of the<br />
GRA divisional representatives; he is<br />
based in the sub-district of Oola. He said,<br />
“Some of the outside stations are in very<br />
poor repair. Doon is a bad one; the<br />
solitary member, <strong>Garda</strong> Kieran Beegan, is<br />
working out of a portable cabin. They<br />
have had a kitchen added – but in 2007 to<br />
be trying to provide a service to the<br />
<strong>public</strong> out of this kind of accommodation<br />
is not really on. Certainly prisoners would<br />
not put up with it; and prisoners’ rights<br />
groups certainly would not put up with it;<br />
especially if you housed prisoners in the<br />
same conditions that we have to work in.<br />
“The station in Doon is too hot in<br />
summer and too cold in the winter; or<br />
cold and damp all year round like my<br />
station in Oola. The big old stations are<br />
totally unsuitable. Oola is a big old house<br />
and I occupy the only two rooms that<br />
have power in them and heat in the<br />
winter.<br />
“It’s no more challenging in policing<br />
terms than any other rural town. They all<br />
have their problems especially at<br />
weekends with <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong> issues. Every<br />
weekend of nights I am brought into Tipp<br />
town to augment the regular units there.”<br />
Emly is a sub-station of Tipp town – as<br />
Doon is a sub-station of Cappaghwhite.<br />
Tipperary is the district headquarters of<br />
eight sub-districts. The <strong>Garda</strong> in the sub-<br />
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Superintendent<br />
Gerard Redmond<br />
station reports to the sergeant in the<br />
parent station; while it seems confusing<br />
to an outsider, because the other stations<br />
only have a <strong>Garda</strong> member as well but<br />
they are an autonomous station – so the<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> is acting for the sergeant.<br />
“It is not unusual. The distinction has<br />
become blurred because you have a lot of<br />
one-man stations,” said Don Mitchell,<br />
“The station party has not increased as<br />
much as we would like. The average unit<br />
strength is five; and we have a detective<br />
branch that is 1+3.<br />
“We often have only one car crew out<br />
and they can be 25 miles away from<br />
another part of the district over poor rural<br />
roads. There is very little you can do<br />
about that. The area is reasonably well<br />
policed with the resources we have<br />
available to us; in fairness we have had<br />
good resources in recent times. Operation<br />
anvil was a big help to us. We augment<br />
our units with <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong> units at<br />
weekends and that’s certainly a help.<br />
“If you don’t have the extra personnel<br />
and you get a call to the outlying areas in<br />
the district then the car has to go there<br />
and you have nobody in town at all. Now<br />
we can use the extra resources to still<br />
police the town and use the district patrol<br />
car to police the district and respond to<br />
the calls in the district. At night we are<br />
definitely going to get calls from both the<br />
town and the rural sub-districts as well.”<br />
IMAGINATION<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Tony Chearnley believes that<br />
staffing issues are the biggest challenge<br />
in rural policing. He said, “Another issue<br />
of health and safety that we try to achieve<br />
is always having two members out in the<br />
patrol car, especially at night.<br />
Unfortunately this does not always<br />
happen. Often it is reality that we have<br />
only one member in the station and one<br />
in the patrol car. Due to manpower<br />
shortages we can be down to two people,<br />
the bare minimum. This is often the truth<br />
in policing today.”<br />
Superintendent Gerard Redmond has<br />
been the district officer for Tipperary<br />
since May. His initial impression is that<br />
additional resources have proved effective.<br />
He said, “Operation Anvil has been an<br />
addition to us here because it gives us the<br />
flexibility apart from dealing with the<br />
bread-and-butter work where we must<br />
have the station manned and the patrol car<br />
on the road. We can use imagination and<br />
look at crime trends and problems in<br />
different areas; we can profile and target<br />
issues. We can be proactive.<br />
TIPPERARY<br />
“Burglaries are down 17%, burglaries<br />
by 20%. Thefts from shops have increased<br />
by 13%. Additional shops and shoppers<br />
have been brought to town; the increased<br />
activity brings everything with it.<br />
“The increase in the strength of the<br />
traffic units might also be a reason why<br />
headline crime has reduced overall in the<br />
region. There are additional traffic patrol<br />
cars and more checkpoints which has<br />
created a more visible presence on the<br />
roads; in relation to drink driving,<br />
dangerous driving and overloaded trucks.<br />
For the criminal carrying drugs or<br />
travelling from area to area, they see a<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> presence that increases their<br />
chance of being caught. I think that has<br />
paid dividends.<br />
“It is untold what crime and other antisocial<br />
behaviour has been prevented by<br />
the extra traffic units around the country.”<br />
The main policing issues here from the<br />
perspective of the sergeant in charge are<br />
the usual <strong>public</strong> <strong>order</strong> problems that are<br />
endemic at the weekends and drugs;<br />
cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis. He<br />
believes the main contributor to <strong>public</strong><br />
<strong>order</strong> problems is alcohol-in combination<br />
with cocaine that ‘certainly aggravates<br />
the situation substantially’.<br />
Headline crime is down this year. The<br />
district still suffers daytime burglaries<br />
because of the empty houses. Mostly<br />
these are committed by people coming<br />
into the district and they are gone by the<br />
time the burglary is discovered when<br />
people get home from work. Members<br />
think that the criminals are coming in<br />
from Limerick and some from Cork<br />
because we are in a line between them;<br />
then there are the travelling criminals that<br />
could come from anywhere.<br />
Sergeant<br />
Don Mitchell i/c<br />
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TENTACLES<br />
Detective <strong>Garda</strong> John Keane is a member<br />
of the district detective unit. He said, “We<br />
have our problem with drugs, which are in<br />
every town and village in the country now.<br />
Operation anvil was an advantage, a great<br />
addition; we had two extra people working<br />
every day out in a car. Even intelligence<br />
wise, we could place them in any area<br />
where we have crime.<br />
“We have a very big district and we are<br />
very close to Limerick. Criminals in<br />
Limerick could steal a car and come in<br />
and do some burglaries in our sub-districts<br />
and be back in the city before they are<br />
even reported. This creates a lot of hassle<br />
for us, so we have tried to locate anvil on<br />
the b<strong>order</strong>; both in the day and at night.<br />
We have been following the trends of the<br />
burglaries.<br />
“We work closely with the divisional<br />
drugs unit and we are often involved in<br />
operations with them. It is a substantial<br />
part of our job. Many of the other crimes<br />
are related to the drug users. Members of<br />
the major city drug gangs might not live in<br />
the district but they would certainly have<br />
tentacles out here; dealing and the like.<br />
Tipperary Town<br />
“YOU CAN’T ASK<br />
DIRECTIONS AS NO ONE<br />
LIKES TO SEE A GARDA ON<br />
THEIR DOORSTEP AT THREE<br />
O’CLOCK IN THE<br />
MORNING. WE DON’T<br />
COME BEARING GIFTS”<br />
Every now and again they move in for a<br />
while and then move on.”<br />
Three of the sub-districts are in east Co.<br />
Limerick and are all within 20 minutes of<br />
Limerick city; dysfunctional parts of<br />
Limerick city where the sprawling housing<br />
estates have anti-social problems, social<br />
issues and drugs. It’s fairly spread out.<br />
In the station there is the Superintendent<br />
and one Inspector, Paschal Feeney the<br />
current President of AGSI. There is no<br />
traffic corps based here; the new corps is<br />
in Cahir.<br />
The station party is young; very few of<br />
the station party commute the 25 miles<br />
from Clonmel or Limerick (Tipperary is<br />
half way between them). The socialising in<br />
TIPPERARY: A LITMUS TEST FOR CONTEMPORARY RURAL POLICING<br />
20 � GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007<br />
the station is primarily within each unit,<br />
but the station party will get together for<br />
leaving events.<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Tony Chearnley had been in the<br />
district since 1993, and is one of the<br />
longest serving members in a young<br />
station party. He said, “That in itself can<br />
cause problems; young people working on<br />
their own without the local knowledge can<br />
mean they don’t know where they are<br />
going.<br />
“Somebody can be on their first day in<br />
the job and they are out in the car trying to<br />
do something. It can be a problem – we<br />
believe that the cars require some kind of<br />
global positioning system, even to locate<br />
places afterwards. We waste a lot of time<br />
going to alarm calls when we don’t know<br />
where the place is. We might have the<br />
name of a house in a townland; and yet<br />
there are no signs.<br />
“Unless you know the place, you are<br />
lost. You can’t ask directions as no one<br />
likes to see a <strong>Garda</strong> on their doorstep at<br />
three o’clock in the morning. We don’t<br />
come bearing gifts and bringing good<br />
news.<br />
“It takes a long time to build this local
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knowledge with a junior station party. It<br />
takes a lot of work to glean that<br />
information and retain it.”<br />
NEWLY PROMOTED<br />
Geographically this is a very big district<br />
that is mostly rural with lots of mountain.<br />
There is a very wooded area that is<br />
scarcely populated and very remote.<br />
Tipperary is a district where newly<br />
promoted superintendents are appointed<br />
to learn their craft and then they move on.<br />
There have been 21 superintendents in<br />
the past 37 years. The current<br />
Superintendent explains how he sees this<br />
in the context of the district.<br />
Superintendent Gerard Redmond said,<br />
“For the first three months you are<br />
getting a feel for your surroundings and<br />
adjusting to your new challenges and then<br />
for the second three months you are<br />
starting to get on top of things and after<br />
six months I am starting to put my own<br />
stamp on things.<br />
“Policing problems tend to be of a<br />
similar nature no matter where you are; it’s<br />
only the volume that differs. Some places<br />
by their very nature and their population<br />
will dictate what problems or the extent of<br />
the problems you are going to face.”<br />
There has been unemployment here<br />
that has created the kind of social<br />
problems for society in general and<br />
policing in particular. This is a RAPID<br />
area for regeneration and they have<br />
recently been granted a <strong>Garda</strong> youth<br />
diversion project.<br />
Gerard Redmond said, “We are going<br />
to be working with the marginalised<br />
youth in the town. I regard this as our<br />
input to the town, working with the youth<br />
services. It’s a major buy-in by us.<br />
“You get a positive response from the<br />
people of the town because of that. I<br />
would hate to regard our work as being<br />
focussed towards bringing juveniles to<br />
court, and prosecuting them. The juvenile<br />
liaison officer system is designed to divert<br />
young people away from a life of crime.<br />
“Early intervention is the secret and I<br />
am big into that. I would rather see a<br />
young person who has gone wayward<br />
receive everything that we can do to get<br />
them back on track. I would see court as<br />
a last resort, when everything else has<br />
failed. We have our first application to<br />
issue an ASBO before the courts; the next<br />
step is court but we decided that we would<br />
try this route first and I am keen to see<br />
how that goes. It’s a drawn out process but<br />
it is worth the effort if it works.”<br />
NEW LEADERS<br />
Nora Hoare has been the Finance Officer<br />
for the past three years, and she was the<br />
clerical officer here for the 34 years<br />
before that. She has worked for 21<br />
superintendents; and she outlined the<br />
changes in working practices and in the<br />
attitude towards management.<br />
She said, “Changes in our work have<br />
been huge in this time; computerisation is<br />
the number one factor. I came here to a<br />
murder investigation in 1970, when we<br />
had the black typewriters where you put in<br />
12 sheets of carbon paper to make copies.<br />
“The computerisation of <strong>Garda</strong> pay was<br />
a big change for me, because I came from<br />
a time when sergeants had a big monthly<br />
pay sheet with allowances on it and they<br />
were so long. That was a huge change; as<br />
was PULSE.<br />
“Tipperary always had a great<br />
atmosphere, and as a civilian I was<br />
always made to feel very included on the<br />
team. Others have not been included as<br />
much, that’s why I think it is brilliant for<br />
the civilians now that there is a new<br />
career structure in place for them.”<br />
Nora Hoare was one of the first<br />
civilians to be employed in a <strong>Garda</strong><br />
station. She has worked for 21<br />
superintendents in this time; including<br />
former Commissioner Pat Byrne. Because<br />
of the situation of Tipperary we get a lot<br />
of newly promoted superintendents, many<br />
are new to the procedures and Nora<br />
provided continuity and often taught them<br />
administration.<br />
TIPPERARY<br />
Detective <strong>Garda</strong> John Keane and <strong>Garda</strong> Kevin O’Keeffe<br />
She said, “Superintendents come here<br />
newly promoted and they then look to<br />
move back to their areas. They come and<br />
they go. Felix McKenna worked here<br />
then went on to assets; Pat Byrne was an<br />
inspiration and Paul Moran – a new<br />
inspirational leader was here. The new<br />
leaders are brilliant; a lot of it stems from<br />
the new superintendents courses – they are<br />
more academically prepared for the job.<br />
“There is a big change in the style of<br />
management; a more ‘open-door’ style. I<br />
came here at a time when Chiefs would<br />
come here on inspection and the lads<br />
(superintendents) would be terrified and<br />
would be glad when they had gone. Now<br />
they are leaders of the team – captain of<br />
the ship. That is why I think civilians are<br />
going to play a bigger role. We were lost<br />
for years.”<br />
This seems to sum up the working<br />
spirit in Tipperary district. Detective<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> John Keane agrees, “We have<br />
always had a great working relationship<br />
in this station; if we have any issues they<br />
are always ironed out very fast.<br />
“There are great working relationships<br />
here between all ranks; making it a good<br />
station to come to.”<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Tony Chearnley concluded,<br />
“We have always had a good rapport with<br />
the superintendents even though we have<br />
gone through a lot of them over the years.<br />
Most issues have been resolved locally;<br />
although we do have outstanding issues<br />
with the state of the sub-district<br />
stations.” GR<br />
TIPPERARY: A LITMUS TEST FOR CONTEMPORARY RURAL POLICING<br />
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Transport Police in Washington DC<br />
are actively targeting mobile<br />
phone, MP3 and PDA users<br />
because often they are not paying<br />
attention to what’s going on around them<br />
and are therefore subject to crime. It’s a<br />
concept that seems utterly futuristic to<br />
Irish passengers, who unlike most of their<br />
European counterparts, travel on <strong>public</strong><br />
transport without any police presence at<br />
all. In Vancouver, taser guns have been<br />
distributed to offices who patrol SkyTrain<br />
stations, adding to an arsenal that already<br />
includes handguns.<br />
In Minneapolis, the Metro Transit’s<br />
$2.4 million plan to improve security on<br />
transit buses include greater police<br />
presence, broadened partnerships with<br />
local police, retrofitting buses with<br />
PUBLIC TRANSPORT<br />
TRANSPORT POLICE<br />
Assaults against<br />
passengers, robbery,<br />
ticket fraud, drug<br />
dealing and terrorism.<br />
Just some of the tasks<br />
a transport police faces<br />
daily. Ireland is one of<br />
the few jurisdictions<br />
in Europe that doesn’t<br />
have one. June<br />
Caldwell reports.<br />
enhanced multi-camera digital recording<br />
systems, and increasing community<br />
outreach efforts. In other European<br />
jurisdictions, police officers and bombsniffing<br />
dogs patrol subway and train<br />
stations in the wake of recent terrorist<br />
threats. All in all, everywhere around us,<br />
transport police are playing a bigger<br />
better role in <strong>public</strong> policing, everywhere<br />
that is, except Ireland.<br />
POTENTIAL<br />
Fine Gael Transport Spokesman Fergus<br />
O’Dowd TD believes that passengers in<br />
Dublin are becoming increasingly<br />
concerned about their safety on <strong>public</strong><br />
transport. “The Departments of Justice<br />
and Transport must examine the<br />
possibility of deploying <strong>Garda</strong>í on <strong>public</strong><br />
PUBLIC TRANSPORT<br />
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routes in <strong>order</strong> to protect <strong>public</strong> safety<br />
and deter potential criminals or trouble<br />
makers,” he said. “Other jurisdictions<br />
operate successful transport police units<br />
or forces, and there would be potential<br />
within the <strong>Garda</strong>í for a <strong>public</strong> transport<br />
corps.<br />
“The <strong>Garda</strong> Traffic Corps has already<br />
proved itself highly effective, albeit in the<br />
face of under-resourcing and the Justice<br />
Minister’s refusal to allow Traffic Corps<br />
members to operate exclusively on traffic<br />
issues. I will be recommending that the<br />
Government actively considers the<br />
creation of a dedicated <strong>public</strong> transport<br />
corps.<br />
“With the <strong>public</strong> becoming increasingly<br />
concerned about safety on <strong>public</strong><br />
transport, this issue must be addressed by<br />
the Government.”<br />
Transport police are a specialised<br />
police agency or unit employed by a<br />
common carrier, which could be a<br />
railway, bus line, other transport carrier,<br />
or the state. Most countries have them or<br />
at least most ‘big’ cities have some form<br />
of dedicated transport police. Their<br />
mandate is to prevent and investigate<br />
crimes committed against the carrier or<br />
by or against passengers or other<br />
customers of the carrier, or those<br />
committed on the carrier’s property.<br />
In Britain, most of the rail system,<br />
including the London Underground, is<br />
policed by a national transport police<br />
agency, the British Transport Police.<br />
Some transit police have full policing<br />
powers, while in other areas they have<br />
limited powers.<br />
In Ireland, there is scant statistics kept<br />
with regard to crime on the <strong>public</strong><br />
transport system. News stories come and<br />
go – like last year with regard to the Luas<br />
users who parked at the car park at the<br />
Red Cow ‘Park and Ride’ facility their<br />
cars were systematically vandalised. It<br />
meant that travelling by train was no<br />
longer feasible. Commuters reported that<br />
windscreens were being shattered on an<br />
almost daily basis.<br />
Incidents of crime on Dublin City’s<br />
DART were also reported but aside from<br />
busy periods like Christmas or football<br />
matches, etc., there is no extra security<br />
allocated to trains or buses. Last year in<br />
the Daily Mail, it was reported that<br />
<strong>Garda</strong>í had noticed a significant increase<br />
in crime such as burglary along the<br />
LUAS line itself, and concluded that<br />
criminals and thieves use the system as a<br />
getaway. There was, apparently, a<br />
discernible increase in crime levels in<br />
affluent south Dublin neighbourhoods<br />
near the Luas green line, which runs from<br />
St Stephen’s Green to Sandyford.<br />
Criminals are effectively using the trams<br />
as getaway vehicles. Stops between<br />
Ranelagh and Dundrum were the worst<br />
affected by the crime wave.<br />
DISRUPTING<br />
According to Dougie Keil, a serving<br />
police officer and General Secretary of<br />
the Scottish Police Federation for more<br />
PUBLIC TRANSPORT<br />
“WITH THE PUBLIC<br />
BECOMING INCREASINGLY<br />
CONCERNED ABOUT<br />
SAFETY ON PUBLIC<br />
TRANSPORT, THIS ISSUE<br />
MUST BE ADDRESSED BY<br />
THE GOVERNMENT”<br />
than 30 years, trains in most city<br />
locations can be used to carry and<br />
disguise all kinds of crime. “Before 9/11<br />
drugs were always transported by air, for<br />
instance, but now international drug<br />
pushers believe that air security is too<br />
great a risk,” he explains.<br />
“The roads in the UK are no longer a<br />
safe haven for drug hauls since we<br />
introduced automated vehicle registration<br />
numbers that can tell us very quickly if<br />
an approaching vehicle is stolen, etc. But<br />
the trains continue to be a safe enough<br />
way to carry all kinds of cargo. The<br />
bottom line is that if the <strong>public</strong> have a<br />
concern about safety on their transport<br />
system, then a dedicated police presence<br />
should at least be looked at. We could not<br />
even imagine daily life here in the UK<br />
without a transport police.”<br />
The British Transport Police is the<br />
national police force for the railways<br />
providing a policing service to rail<br />
operators, their staff and passengers<br />
throughout England, Wales and Scotland.<br />
The Force is also responsible for policing<br />
the London Underground system,<br />
Docklands Light Railway, the Glasgow<br />
Subway, the Midland Metro tram system<br />
and Croydon Tramlink. As well as<br />
ordinary police duties (transport police in<br />
the UK train in the exact same way as<br />
ordinary police) – crackdowns on crime<br />
are a regular occurrence.<br />
Earlier this year one such ‘crackdown’<br />
resulted in 73 people being arrested on<br />
<strong>public</strong> transport in south-east London.<br />
The aim of the operation was to tackle<br />
the high volume of robberies, drug<br />
peddling and anti-social behaviour. The<br />
five-day operation targeted stations and<br />
travel routes from Lambeth to Croydon,<br />
around the A23 corridor. Scotland Yard<br />
said the initiative was also aimed at<br />
disrupting criminals who use the <strong>public</strong><br />
transit system to commit offences in<br />
other boroughs.<br />
Other such offences against crime on<br />
transport systems took place in the North<br />
PUBLIC TRANSPORT<br />
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of Ireland, when the PSNI in Ballymena,<br />
for instance, teamed up with Translink<br />
recently to allow community beat officers<br />
free transport on town service buses. It<br />
was a move to increase visibility and<br />
make passengers feel safe. The initiative<br />
was a deterrent to anti-social behaviour<br />
on the buses in their catchment area.<br />
In theory, additional resources to police<br />
<strong>public</strong> transport in Ireland could<br />
potentially pay for themselves, when<br />
offset against the cost of vandalism and<br />
assault on un-policed networks. For<br />
instance, Translink, in a recent count<br />
suffered over 7,000 incidents across the<br />
Northern Ireland bus and rail network in<br />
one year, including assaults on staff and<br />
passengers, vandalism, stone throwing and<br />
civil unrest. These incidents cost over £7<br />
million in damage repairs, revenue loss<br />
because of interrupted services, insurance<br />
claims and additional staff cover.<br />
UNREPORTED<br />
Buses in Dublin’s capital are often seen as<br />
even more dangerous than trains, with high<br />
incidents of pick pocketing, robbery and<br />
assaults. One particular bus route that<br />
travels in the same direction as the Red<br />
Line Luas saw a rake of complaints from<br />
drivers who were sick of having their buses<br />
smashed up, windows broken and so on.<br />
“WE ARE STILL VERY SMALL<br />
FRY COMPARED TO OUR<br />
UK OR EUROPEAN<br />
NEIGHBOURS. THE<br />
DEMOGRAPHICS ARE<br />
HOWEVER, CHANGING”<br />
Even on the independently-run<br />
irishbuses.com website, a general<br />
overview of city centre bus services<br />
points to crime; ‘It is NOT recommended<br />
to walk from Heuston Station to Dublin<br />
Centre’ the walk, while in a straight<br />
direction along the River Liffey situated<br />
alongside the station, is along a congested<br />
traffic routes & parts of the journey are<br />
through heavy traffic and undesirable<br />
places. Tourists carrying luggage could<br />
also become easy targets for crime.<br />
According to The Irish Tourist<br />
Assistance Service, the biggest problem<br />
with tourists using <strong>public</strong> transport tends<br />
to be on inter-city buses, not trains. A<br />
spokesperson said that they receive calls<br />
from tourists who have their bags<br />
snatched on buses, although it suspects<br />
that a lot of these incidents go<br />
unreported.<br />
PUBLIC TRANSPORT<br />
It is well documented that a lack of<br />
personal security is a barrier to travel, and<br />
particularly so for women and evening<br />
travel. “I would say it’s getting towards<br />
that way now where it may be time to<br />
think of a dedicated police unit just for<br />
transport,” said Sergeant Kevin Donohue<br />
of the Traffic Unit in Dublin Castle. “At<br />
the moment coming up to Christmas, you<br />
have the likes of Operation Freeflow and<br />
so on, and at bus terminus in Dublin city,<br />
you will see a far greater police presence.<br />
“Certainly if it goes as far as building a<br />
Metro system, it will eventually become<br />
inevitable that we will have some kind of<br />
transport police, but as yet, we are still<br />
very small fry compared to our UK or<br />
European neighbours. The demographics<br />
are however, changing.”<br />
There are now greater concentrations of<br />
people in the city, with greater numbers<br />
using <strong>public</strong> transport systems. At the<br />
moment, the Luas is the only system that<br />
operates relatively late and there has been<br />
trouble reported. Stations such as<br />
Donnybrook pay more attention to DART<br />
stops and Pearse Street <strong>Garda</strong> station pay<br />
extra attention to the central bus terminus<br />
in Dublin, but in all likelihood, one day<br />
in the future, we will see the emergence<br />
of a transport police. It’s just a matter of<br />
when. GR<br />
PUBLIC TRANSPORT<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 29
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Attention. “<br />
By the left. Quick<br />
march. Left. Right. Left. Right.”<br />
“Square bashing; as it has been<br />
since our foundation, so it was<br />
for that 28th March 1979 when I walked<br />
in the gate of the <strong>Garda</strong> Training centre.<br />
“From day one my favourite <strong>training</strong><br />
discipline was drill. The Square. From the<br />
entrance gate to the archway; from the<br />
army section to the officers quarters. Coordination.<br />
The crunch of leather soles on<br />
tarmac; the swish of arms fully extended<br />
from the elbow and shoulder as we<br />
marched four abreast. Eyes front, ears on<br />
full alert as we await the next command.<br />
Would it be; about turn or halt? It’s halt.<br />
One. Two. Silence. Totally immobile save<br />
for the drill instructors commentary on<br />
our progress. Off again; the wonderful<br />
exhilaration associated with exercise.<br />
“I recall our initial turnout and the drill<br />
instructors harangue on the necessity and<br />
value of drill and exercise in our <strong>Garda</strong><br />
duties. “To develop teamwork,<br />
confidence, alertness, attention to detail<br />
and esprit de corps.”<br />
Mt Everest<br />
GARDA STORY<br />
30 � GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007<br />
For John Merrick; even from his<br />
earliest Sexton Street, Limerick school<br />
days walking was always more of a<br />
pleasure than a chore. In 1969,at age 12,<br />
a penny a mile charity walk was<br />
organised. A lot of money at the time.<br />
One sponsor was so surprised he had<br />
completed the trek he demanded the<br />
names and descriptions of the landmarks<br />
along the way before coughing up.<br />
John recalls December 1970 at age 13<br />
climbing Keeper Hill; the highest point of<br />
the famed Silvermines. Clad in Wellington<br />
boots and short pants his legs rubbed raw.<br />
He finished in his bare feet.<br />
After his <strong>Garda</strong> <strong>training</strong> he was<br />
allocated to Pearse street but after a short<br />
spell in the B he moved to Clondalkin.<br />
“In <strong>training</strong> the drill instructor handed<br />
me my marching feet but it was<br />
Clondalkin’s John McCann who gave me<br />
my beat patrol feet. I’ll never forget that<br />
first 6 o’clock morning when we picked<br />
up our feet and four hours later we were<br />
still in step when we turned back in for<br />
our break.<br />
“At the time there were a lot more beat<br />
men than today and I began to study the<br />
art of walking.<br />
“I discovered that some members could<br />
stand still for long periods—a heel and<br />
toe exercise to maintain circulation. For<br />
me; even in posts I had to mark my spot<br />
with a short beat. Pacing out, back and<br />
forth or in a circle counting out the steps.<br />
Not long for twenty to become a hundred<br />
and then 440; a quarter mile and so on.<br />
“Early in my Clondalkin days I met a<br />
retired skipper Kevin Blessing. An active<br />
man, exercise was constantly on the<br />
menu. We scaled Carrantual. Brandon.<br />
The Comeraghs. Lugnaquilla.<br />
Mullaghacleevaun. Mount Leinster. The<br />
Galtees. Silvermines and the Donegal<br />
mountains. Nowhere is the beauty of the<br />
Emerald Isle more viewable and<br />
exhilarating than from its towering<br />
mountain peaks. We also did the United<br />
Kingdoms, Ben Nevis, Scafell, Pike and<br />
Snowden. These were wonderful, almost<br />
joyous occasions. Peace and tranquillity<br />
with mind, body and soul in unison.<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> John Merrick<br />
walks the walk<br />
By Tim Doyle
<strong>Garda</strong>_Nov_07_p30-31:<strong>Garda</strong>_Mar_07-p4-29 11/9/07 11:45 AM Page 31<br />
“In my opinion the activity associated<br />
with walking engenders a desire,almost a<br />
calling to represent others less fortunate.<br />
So many deserving causes in every<br />
community. In 1996 Kevin and I did a<br />
charity walk for a seriously ill colleague.<br />
As usual the gardaí dug deep and we<br />
collected £5,000.<br />
“In 1997 I answered a leaflet advert for<br />
sponsored walkers left in my station. The<br />
Irish society for autism was looking for<br />
walkers to do the Wicklow Way and raise<br />
much needed funds. Due to my previous<br />
experience I was appointed a leader.<br />
“In 1998 I did The Way again for the<br />
same charity and the following year<br />
completed a walk on the Island of Malta.<br />
“In 1999 I moved to the Defence Unit,<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Headquarters. In 2002 I did a<br />
Jungle Trek to Thailand for charity.<br />
Camping out in the jungle, no fancy<br />
hotels; just a two man tent. In 2005 I<br />
trekked the foothills of Everest, 16 days at<br />
altitude. Such scenery one would want to<br />
go back to again and again. In May this<br />
year one of my Defence colleagues asked<br />
would I take them hill walking. We<br />
decided on the Wicklow Way. Like any<br />
mission it needed planning; logistics<br />
equipment, etc. I was delighted when<br />
everyone on our unit made the effort. I<br />
organised an overnight stay in the<br />
Glenmalure Hotel. The first day we<br />
walked to Kelly’s Lough; at the foot of<br />
Lugnaquilla. We spent five hours on the<br />
hills. The gang was Brian O Dea, James<br />
Byrne, Michael Foley, Patrick Corcoran,<br />
Patrick O Connor, Daniel O Connor,<br />
Patrick Mc Mahon and myself.<br />
“Many times during that trip the<br />
fervour of my <strong>training</strong> drill instructor<br />
came to me. Esprit de corps.<br />
Camaraderie. Today’s word would be<br />
bonding. In July just gone we walked to<br />
Church mountain, on the Baltinglass end<br />
of the Wicklow Mountains. Seven of us<br />
turned out and we had a treasured day on<br />
the hills. Some will remember the aches<br />
and pains of tired legs. Our next foray is<br />
a Christmas walk in the Glenmalure area<br />
to finish the year in style.<br />
“Hill walking has many facets. It’s<br />
about time. Time to exercise. Time to rest.<br />
Draw breath. Take a drink of water. Look<br />
back at the terrain covered. Look forward<br />
to that yet to be traversed. Shake up the<br />
body and start off for new ground.<br />
“It’s about being active and alert<br />
especially in isolated locations. It’s about<br />
sharpening the senses and raising one’s<br />
appreciation of the natural beauty of our<br />
country. It places life on a pedestal. How<br />
precious it is? Nowhere is one more alive<br />
in the physical and spiritual sense.<br />
“It’s about enjoyment. Most appreciate<br />
GARDA STORY<br />
“TO DEVELOP TEAMWORK,<br />
CONFIDENCE, ALERTNESS,<br />
ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND<br />
ESPRIT DE CORPS”<br />
a good walk. Health and well being. The<br />
only proviso is to set ones own pace.<br />
“Mountain climbing is the supreme<br />
challenge. Making an ascent only to find<br />
another peak tempting and willing you on.<br />
Like a testament to live life to the full.<br />
“The ultimate challenge is attempting<br />
to go beyond ones endurance.”<br />
Our duties as <strong>Garda</strong>í demand that we<br />
maintain a high level of mind and body<br />
fitness. Every hour of every day our<br />
activity is monitored. We are required to<br />
display dedication, enthusiasm and<br />
physicality in one of the most difficult<br />
disciplines in society. Nowadays we can<br />
cycle, motorbike, drive, boat or helicopter<br />
to incidents the final steps into people’s<br />
lives must be taken on foot. No matter<br />
how technology evolves one suspects that<br />
for decades to come each new <strong>Garda</strong><br />
applicant will continue to stand, walk and<br />
exercise under the watchful eyes of the<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Surgeon. GR<br />
John Merrick leads walks and climbs<br />
throughout Ireland. Nowadays many units<br />
organise long weekend social events. He<br />
urges them to consider ‘leisure walking’<br />
and is ready to advise and assist in any<br />
such venture. He can be reached at The<br />
Defence Unit <strong>Garda</strong> Headquarters.<br />
John Merrick and his gang<br />
from the Defence Unit<br />
GARDA STORY<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 31
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It probably wouldn’t<br />
happen if you tried to<br />
start now. Since the<br />
1960s – without<br />
payment – <strong>Garda</strong>í from<br />
Cork gave their free<br />
time and annual leave<br />
to build a credit union.<br />
Neil Ward reports.<br />
There is an informal and almost<br />
irreverent atmosphere in St Paul’s<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Credit Union. Money<br />
might be a serious business, but<br />
the manner in which it is discussed is<br />
about connecting with people and their<br />
needs. You could be forgiven for thinking<br />
that everyone in the building puts a touch<br />
of laughter as their reason to be there; but<br />
this is the very culture that built the<br />
business, because in the early days the<br />
laughter and sense of achievement was<br />
the only reward for the <strong>Garda</strong>í who built<br />
the institution to provide mutual support<br />
and a credit facility for members who<br />
shared a common bond; they were<br />
members of An <strong>Garda</strong> Síochána.<br />
As St Paul’s celebrates its 40th birthday<br />
this month, two of the men who freely<br />
gave their time and annual leave to build it<br />
are still working the odd day in the offices,<br />
and still being asked for by name among<br />
the thousands of members who call the<br />
offices in Boreenmanna Road.<br />
Pat Coogan retired from the Force in<br />
1989 and worked full time for the credit<br />
union for 10 years; principally operating<br />
the budget scheme that he had started in<br />
1972. He is still involved and will often<br />
work two days a week giving financial<br />
advice.<br />
He said, “We do have informality at St<br />
Paul’s; it gets talked about. We have a bit<br />
of craic on the phone. That makes it<br />
ST PAUL’S AT 40<br />
32 � GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007<br />
L-R: Pat Coogan and Flan Wiley<br />
life<br />
easier to talk; there are no formal boxes<br />
to be ticked. It was always that way.<br />
“It evolved. It fell into place because of<br />
the <strong>Garda</strong> connection and it became the<br />
culture of St Paul’s and it stayed that way.<br />
We don’t have the same constraints you<br />
might get in a bank or a call centre; we<br />
TIMELINE 1967-1988 ST PAUL’S OPERATES FROM MACCURTAIN STREET GARDA STATION<br />
1975<br />
Payroll deduction<br />
is introduced<br />
1975<br />
Common bond<br />
extended to cover<br />
Munster <strong>Garda</strong><br />
1981<br />
Common bond<br />
extended<br />
countrywide<br />
BEGINS<br />
are prone towards informality. I was<br />
always this way, and so I am in the right<br />
place. Most people here are that way.<br />
Rank plays no part in our culture, it has<br />
nothing to do with us; everyone is<br />
addressed by their first names.”<br />
Flan Wiley is not a founder member;<br />
1982<br />
Shares reach<br />
£1 million mark<br />
1985<br />
First computer<br />
purchased
<strong>Garda</strong>_Nov_07_p32-37:<strong>Garda</strong>_Mar_07-p4-29 11/9/07 12:21 PM Page 33<br />
there aren’t any founder members still<br />
working here, the last man to do that was<br />
Noel Dee. But Flan Wiley has been<br />
involved for 37 years. The credit union<br />
was started in 1967 for members in Cork<br />
who could physically call into the office<br />
in MacCurtain Street <strong>Garda</strong> station and<br />
1987<br />
Common bond<br />
extended to family<br />
members<br />
1987<br />
Purchased building in<br />
Boreenmanna Road<br />
pay their contributions, and in 1975 the<br />
Common Bond was extended to include<br />
<strong>Garda</strong>í in the Munster area and eventually<br />
to the whole country in 1981.<br />
Flan Wiley said, “As soon as it became<br />
possible we went out around the country.<br />
I’d say that I’ve been in every station in<br />
1997<br />
Demolished old building<br />
and built new offices on<br />
Boreenmanna Road<br />
ST PAUL’S AT 40<br />
“WE DO HAVE INFORMALITY<br />
AT ST PAUL’S. WE HAVE A BIT<br />
OF CRAIC ON THE PHONE.<br />
THAT MAKES IT EASIER TO<br />
TALK; THERE ARE NO<br />
FORMAL BOXES TO BE<br />
TICKED”<br />
the 26 counties bar Dublin. There was a<br />
squad picked for it; we would all get into<br />
a car and be dropped off in a station and<br />
we would try to persuade members to<br />
sign up for the credit union. Paddy<br />
Coogan, Matt Thorne, Frank Burke, Mick<br />
O’Halloran and I were regulars.<br />
“We would take off in one car on a<br />
Monday morning at five o’clock. I could<br />
be dropped in Monaghan and we would<br />
work our way around different stations<br />
getting lifts in squad cars. We would go<br />
from station to station; and Mick<br />
O’Halloran would ring us in the evening<br />
to see how many ‘fish’ we had caught.<br />
That was our cant.”<br />
The b<strong>order</strong> divisions were a popular<br />
destination in the 1980s as so many<br />
members had been sent to the b<strong>order</strong>;<br />
they were also earning some overtime<br />
payments for the first time on such a<br />
large scale.<br />
Pat Coogan said, “My best memories<br />
are of our countrywide recruiting in the<br />
1980s. They have nothing to do with the<br />
credit union itself, but the craic we had<br />
out on the road. The people that we met.<br />
I have great memories of that era.<br />
“We mixed business with pleasure. It<br />
was a holiday in its own way; it was a<br />
change of location, a change of scene and<br />
we met new people. We met many new<br />
people and we also saw old friends that<br />
we hadn’t seen since we were in <strong>training</strong><br />
together. It gave us chance to reminisce.<br />
It had this dual purpose.<br />
“Not in my wildest dreams did we<br />
believe that the credit union would grow to<br />
this size. None of the first 13 or those that<br />
came after could ever have envisaged this.<br />
2006<br />
Purchased, renovated<br />
and opened new offices<br />
in Boreenmanna Road<br />
2007<br />
St Paul’s <strong>Garda</strong><br />
Credit Union<br />
celebrates 40 years<br />
ST PAUL’S AT 40<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 33
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St Paul’s offices on Boreenmanna Road<br />
“I have enjoyed my time here<br />
immensely; it has been part of my life for<br />
40 years. We spent a lot of free time here.<br />
It is getting more difficult to get people to<br />
do voluntary work anywhere now.<br />
“I don’t think that people would be<br />
able to give the time necessary to build a<br />
credit union like this. It was our privilege.<br />
I couldn’t see people giving their annual<br />
leave now to do something like this. We<br />
liked doing it, which was the motivation.<br />
We were building something and we<br />
could see it succeeding. The weekly<br />
intake was getting bigger and bigger. The<br />
more people that were in, the more<br />
people could benefit. We were part of<br />
that. Flan Wiley and I are still involved<br />
here. We put our shoulders to the wheel<br />
when called on.”<br />
COMMON BOND<br />
Flan Wiley retired from the guards 15<br />
years ago, having spent all his time,<br />
unusually, in the one district in Cork City<br />
North. He said, “There was mighty vision<br />
shown by our founding members to get<br />
this started.<br />
“You couldn’t start a credit union now.<br />
The young generation are online now,<br />
and don’t understand the credit union;<br />
often they ring up and ask to have their<br />
shares transferred into their bank account.<br />
They can take out a loan against their<br />
shares and have it paid back in no time at<br />
all – and they still have their shares for a<br />
rainy day. I talk to people and they<br />
generally come around and see the logic<br />
of the advice they have been given.<br />
“EVERYONE THAT WORKS<br />
AT ST PAUL’S UNDERSTANDS<br />
HOW GARDAÍ OPERATE<br />
BECAUSE WE WERE OR ARE<br />
MEMBERS OF THE FORCE;<br />
GARDAÍ ARE UNIQUELY<br />
LOYAL TO EACH OTHER”<br />
“The whole generation has changed in<br />
relation to plastic cards. Having said that,<br />
seven out of every 10 have the right<br />
approach. I have taken fellas out of the<br />
water and hung them up to dry only for<br />
them to go and fall back in again. They<br />
go back to their old ways.<br />
“Helping members out is extremely<br />
satisfying and they appreciate it. I like<br />
talking to people. You have to be able to<br />
handle people too. People are highly<br />
educated now; it was unusual to have a<br />
leaving certificate when we joined. You<br />
need a leaving cert to work in a factory<br />
now: Times have changed.”<br />
In 1964, <strong>Garda</strong> Flan Wiley was in a<br />
station where there were 22 <strong>Garda</strong>í and<br />
only two had their own house; one of<br />
those had married into it. Now it is a<br />
commonplace for members to have their<br />
own house. He said, “Both (<strong>Garda</strong>) credit<br />
unions have played a big part in that. It<br />
has given people independence and got<br />
them into the habit of saving.<br />
Flan Wiley has maintained contact with<br />
people over his years working in the<br />
credit union, and people that he first gave<br />
ST PAUL’S AT 40<br />
loans to over 30 years ago will still ring<br />
up and ask for him.<br />
Pat Coogan agrees. He said, “Back in<br />
1963 when I was getting married and<br />
trying to buy my own house it was<br />
difficult to get on the property ladder.<br />
“The credit union was of immense<br />
benefit to those guys in the 1970s, 1980s,<br />
1990s and still is. People always need to<br />
borrow, and if they run into trouble they<br />
can come in here and the Credit Union<br />
will do everything it can to help. Payments<br />
may be deferred or loans rescheduled in<br />
the short term, unlike the banks I have to<br />
say. That is how I have always felt about<br />
banks; they are very receptive but if a<br />
problem arises you are just a cog in the<br />
wheel and if you are not pulling your<br />
weight you will be ostracised.<br />
“Everyone that works at St Paul’s<br />
understands how <strong>Garda</strong>í operate because we<br />
were or are members of the force; <strong>Garda</strong>í<br />
are uniquely loyal to each other. I left the<br />
Force in 1989, but to people in my local<br />
pub I am still a <strong>Garda</strong>. We are branded<br />
with the same brush and it never leaves<br />
you. Same thing with the credit union.”<br />
COMMON GOOD<br />
St Paul’s Chairman Ben McGrath also<br />
believes that the men that built the credit<br />
union over the 40 years are the perfect<br />
ambassadors. “They have such great<br />
financial acumen built up from years of<br />
experience; and they know the workings<br />
of An <strong>Garda</strong> Síochána because they gave<br />
their working lives to the organisation.<br />
They have a proven disposition to work<br />
for the common good.<br />
They know the culture of the Force,<br />
and are the very people that create the<br />
culture of St Paul’s that is built around<br />
the common bond shared by the<br />
members. Our staff have a rapport with<br />
members because they are either<br />
members of the Force or are retired<br />
members. They use this to make the<br />
experience finance enjoyable.<br />
He also said, “We always give a<br />
sympathetic ear to any request from our<br />
members. No one gets turned down lightly.<br />
“If someone is refused a loan it is, in<br />
our judgement, in their best interests. I<br />
have heard Flan talking members out of<br />
taking a loan and he has persuaded them<br />
to take another course or option. Any<br />
commercial credit broker would not do<br />
this; they would see an opportunity to<br />
make profit.”<br />
Very few loan requests are refused. The<br />
ST PAUL’S AT 40<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 35
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L-R: Eamonn Carthy, Moss Deenihan and Pat Doyle<br />
life of a credit union is based around<br />
shares; they are the collateral they have to<br />
give loans. Senior members who leave<br />
their shares in the credit union help to<br />
keep the life of the credit union, and at St<br />
Paul’s they try to keep a good balance<br />
between shares and loans; the money is<br />
always coming though; there is a security<br />
in the payroll deduction at source.<br />
Flan puts the success of the credit<br />
unions to this facility. He said, “The<br />
payroll deduction facility is of huge<br />
benefit to St Paul’s. It facilitated the<br />
repayment of loans and lodging to shares<br />
of members’ money. Credit wasn’t always<br />
easily available. To get a loan from the<br />
bank you would need the parish priest and<br />
two TDs to vouch for you.<br />
“When the budget scheme was<br />
introduced, that was a great selling point.<br />
People were able to pay their utility bills,<br />
mortgages and everything.”<br />
CULTURAL<br />
Pat Coogan introduced the budget scheme<br />
in 1972. He said, “It was real pick and<br />
shovel stuff, it was all manual. It all had to<br />
be written up into a ledger and reconciled<br />
at the end of the month. It was very<br />
popular then, and it still is.”<br />
Cheques were written by hand to pay<br />
people’s bills under the scheme. At first<br />
“IT IS A FAIRYTALE THAT<br />
YOU NEVER THOUGHT<br />
WOULD HAPPEN”<br />
they had to write up all of the payroll<br />
contributions in the ledger, and at the end<br />
of the month everything had to add up;<br />
reconciliation of the figures. With writing<br />
everything manually it was easy to mistake<br />
a figure; and many Sundays were spent by<br />
the members looking through the ledger<br />
trying to find a missing ten pence.<br />
They built and built and built.<br />
The budget scheme is a huge benefit to<br />
all members; when managed properly it<br />
takes the worry out of bill paying.<br />
Flan said, “We would often go to inservice<br />
<strong>training</strong> days to sign up members<br />
who maybe worked in one-man stations<br />
that would be difficult to get to – you could<br />
call to them and find the station closed.<br />
“It is a fairytale that you never thought<br />
would happen. Mick O’Halloran was a<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> in MacCurtain Street and he had a<br />
great way of getting you to do things for<br />
him. It was all voluntary; we got nothing<br />
for it.<br />
“When we first started going out into<br />
the stations we used to take our holidays to<br />
ST PAUL’S AT 40<br />
do it. This was our annual leave. We were<br />
that interested to get people to sign up. We<br />
used to have competitions to see how<br />
many people we could get in a day. How<br />
many fish did you catch?<br />
“When I was up that time in Monaghan<br />
when the troubles were on, I got the record<br />
of 120 new members. Mick was in<br />
Donegal and he rang to ask how was the<br />
fishing going? I’ve 146 in the bag he said<br />
to me. And he did.<br />
“At that time we wouldn’t be staying in<br />
hotels. We stayed in small B&Bs. We just<br />
enjoyed it and looked forward to it. If you<br />
weren’t on the team going out you would<br />
be wondering what you did wrong the last<br />
time. It was an interest. We had only one<br />
car. We had great laughs and memories.<br />
We had long days but great craic.”<br />
The culture of St Paul’s is not just about<br />
the business, the premises or the assets.<br />
Mick O’Halloran once described the<br />
ideals and principles on which St Paul’s<br />
was founded as follows−through mutual<br />
co-operation, the promotion of financial<br />
thrift and the provision of loans at a<br />
reasonable interest charge thus improving<br />
the economic, social and cultural wellbeing<br />
of all its members.<br />
Adhering to these has ensured that St<br />
Paul’s is the success story that it is today<br />
and will continue to be into the future. GR<br />
ST PAUL’S AT 40<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 37
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YOUR PAY IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSET<br />
By Martin Sheehan<br />
We protect our home, our car,<br />
even our holiday travel but<br />
very few of us protect our<br />
most important asset; our<br />
pay, the one thing that underpins<br />
everything. Have you ever thought about<br />
what would happen if you were unable to<br />
work and your pay stopped or was very<br />
much reduced?<br />
Have a think about what you actually<br />
spend each month. We have suggested the<br />
kind of items that you might be spending<br />
your monthly income on. For most of us<br />
our total spend tends to be very close to<br />
our net pay and therefore it follows that<br />
any reduction in pay would cause a<br />
problem. Do you know what happens to<br />
your pay when you go on sick leave?<br />
Rostered pay which is approx 20% of<br />
basic pay ceases immediately and after 12<br />
months the pension rate of pay applies.<br />
Your sick pay is on a reducing scale ie<br />
half pay after six months and pension rate<br />
of pay after 12 months. Rent allowance is<br />
also subject to half and pension rate<br />
similar to basic pay.<br />
Being out of work on long term sick<br />
can sizeably reduce your pay and cause<br />
major problems. Even being out short<br />
term sick could cause problems as<br />
rostered pay is not paid when you are not<br />
working.<br />
For many years the <strong>Garda</strong><br />
Representative Association has operated<br />
group protection plans providing very<br />
valuable life assurance and serious illness<br />
benefits. Recognising the need that exists<br />
to protect pay in the event of a member<br />
being unable to work the GRA asked its<br />
broker, PenPro to search the market for a<br />
plan to assist members suffering from a<br />
loss of pay as a result of sick leave.<br />
Penpro proposed an income protection<br />
plan which was approved and came into<br />
force on the 1st August 2007.<br />
Income Protection is a form of sickness<br />
insurance that can help prevent financial<br />
worries when on sick leave. It is a very<br />
simple plan that is becoming increasingly<br />
popular in <strong>order</strong> to protect lifestyles in<br />
today’s world. The government have<br />
recognised the importance of such<br />
insurance by allowing full tax and PRSI<br />
relief on premiums.<br />
THE NEW GRA INCOME PROTECTION<br />
PLAN PROVIDES:<br />
� €150 gross per week and similar to<br />
pay is taxed.<br />
� Payment commences after 13 weeks<br />
from the date the member goes on<br />
sick leave and can be paid for up to<br />
five years.<br />
� A member who returns to work on light<br />
duties and suffers a reduction in pay<br />
will be paid a proportionate benefit.<br />
� A member who is paid a benefit and<br />
returns to work will continue to be<br />
covered under the plan.<br />
� No benefit is paid to a member<br />
injured on duty.<br />
It is recognised that a higher level of<br />
benefit would be desirable in the first<br />
instance. The hope is that based on the<br />
experience of the plan the level of benefit<br />
provided can be increased at an<br />
acceptable cost. The cost of providing this<br />
valuable cover is a gross weekly premium<br />
MONEY TALKS<br />
of €4.90 per week<br />
deducted by<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> pay. The<br />
premium qualifies<br />
for full tax and<br />
PRSI relief which<br />
is given by <strong>Garda</strong><br />
pay as a topline deduction giving a net<br />
weekly premium of €2.75 (pre 1995) and<br />
€2.60 (post 1995). I am sure you will<br />
agree a small cost for peace of mind.<br />
It is bad enough having to give up work<br />
through illness. Just think what your life<br />
would be like if you had money problems<br />
as well due to having suffered a major<br />
reduction in pay. You may not be able to<br />
pay for some of the essentials in the above<br />
chart. But if you are in an income<br />
protection plan you may be able to secure<br />
your lifestyle.<br />
For further information and/or an<br />
application form members should contact<br />
Penpro on 01-200 0100. GR<br />
FIGURE EXAMPLES:<br />
YEARS OF SERVICE 1 5 12 20<br />
PAY AFTER 12 MONTHS SICK LEAVE €NIL €6604 €14347 €19218<br />
MORTGAGE/RENT € PM<br />
HOME INSURANCE € PM<br />
BILLS:<br />
TELEPHONE € PM<br />
ESB € PM<br />
GAS € PM<br />
TV € PM<br />
MOBILE € PM<br />
CAR:<br />
LOAN € PM<br />
INSURANCE € PM<br />
TAX € PM<br />
PETROL € PM<br />
SERVICE € PM<br />
GROCERIES € PM<br />
CLOTHES € PM<br />
MEDICAL AID € PM<br />
PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS € PM<br />
CLUB SUBSCRIPTIONS € PM<br />
SOCIALISING € PM<br />
OTHER € PM<br />
TOTAL SPEND € PM<br />
NET PAY € PM<br />
MONEY TALKS<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 39
<strong>Garda</strong>_Nov_07_p40:<strong>Garda</strong>_Mar_07-p4-29 11/9/07 12:09 PM Page 40<br />
INFORMER<br />
Former members of staff at<br />
the ‘<strong>Garda</strong> Training Centre’<br />
from 1964 until it became the<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> College around 1988<br />
have mooted the idea of a<br />
‘reunion day’ for former<br />
personal–both <strong>Garda</strong> and<br />
civilian. Due to the large<br />
numbers involved they<br />
propose confining the event<br />
to members who served in<br />
the ‘Centre’ from 1964 to<br />
1988 and if it proves<br />
successful and becomes an<br />
PRESIDENT GREETS<br />
GARDA TONY GAVIGAN<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Tony Gavigan attended a reception to pay tribute to the<br />
Irish team who competed at the World Transplant Games in<br />
Bangkok, Thailand in September. Tony Gavigan who is<br />
stationed in Kells received a new kidney nine years ago, and<br />
represented his country in the golf and petanque competitions.<br />
INFORMER<br />
40 � GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007<br />
Teachers<br />
celebrate<br />
close links<br />
with <strong>Garda</strong>í<br />
Pictured: Kevin Dolan,<br />
Chairman St. Raphael’s<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Credit Union,<br />
accepted a sculpture piece<br />
entitled ‘Emergence’from<br />
Dympna Mulkerrins,<br />
President Comhar Linn<br />
INTO Credit Union. The<br />
presentation was made to<br />
celebrate the close<br />
association between both<br />
credit unions.<br />
Plans mooted for <strong>training</strong> centre staff reunion<br />
annual event then it may be<br />
enlarged to accommodate<br />
members of the staff from<br />
1988 onwards.<br />
They need to establish<br />
whether there is sufficient<br />
interest in organising a<br />
reunion for instructors,<br />
administration and civilian<br />
staff.<br />
Those interested should<br />
contact Barry Feeney at<br />
bfeeney@eircom.net or 086<br />
2333216.<br />
NOTICEBOARD<br />
Please note that all advertisements in this<br />
section are between the two parties concerned.<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> <strong>Review</strong> and the GRA neither endorse nor<br />
recommend services in this section.<br />
SPANISH HOME TO LET<br />
Member has Spanish holiday home to let. Nerja. 25 mins<br />
from Malaga airport. Three bedrooms, fully furnished,<br />
swimming pool etc. Three minutes walk from beach and<br />
town centre. Summer/Winter 2007. Phone 086 842 1551.<br />
APARTMENT ON THE ALGARVE<br />
Member has a luxurious 2-bed ground floor apartment in<br />
small development to rent. Close to all amenities, 40<br />
minutes from Faro airport. Available April 2008 onwards.<br />
Sleeps 4-6. Swimming pool, tennis court and on-site<br />
parking. Phone 086 859 0345.<br />
TRANSFER SWAPS<br />
■ Member in Louth/Meath Division seeks a swap with a<br />
member in Carlow/Kildare Division or Laois/Offaly.<br />
■ Member in DMR South Division seeks a swap with a<br />
member in Wicklow/Wexford Division.<br />
■ Member in Limerick Division seeks a swap with a<br />
member in Kerry or Cork West Divisions.<br />
■ Member in Galway West Division seeks a swap with a<br />
member in Mayo Division.<br />
Contact the editor on 01 830 3533.<br />
L-R: <strong>Garda</strong>í Joe Quinn and Julie Folan with community<br />
<strong>Garda</strong>í Andrew Melbourne and Daniel Darcy<br />
Mounted unit support community <strong>Garda</strong>í<br />
The <strong>Garda</strong> Mounted Unit visited St Vincent’s National School<br />
in the Ballybough area of Dublin’s north inner city at the<br />
request of local community <strong>Garda</strong>í from Fitzgibbon Street.<br />
The boys and girls at the various schools on the site had<br />
expressed a desire to meet the <strong>Garda</strong> horses, and the visit was<br />
judged to be a great success. <strong>Garda</strong> Daniel Darcy said, “There<br />
is a great diversity of pupils in this school, from both the old<br />
and new communities in the area. It is important that<br />
community <strong>Garda</strong>í form a good relationship with them all.<br />
“This visit can only help to create good relationships.”
<strong>Garda</strong>_Nov_07_p41:<strong>Garda</strong>_Mar_07-p4-29 11/9/07 12:29 PM Page 41<br />
Pictures by D/<strong>Garda</strong> Ian Redican<br />
GARDA<br />
HISTORICAL SOCIETY<br />
MAKES A COMEBACK<br />
The neglected <strong>Garda</strong> Síochána<br />
Historical Society made a<br />
welcome return with a lecture in<br />
Dublin Castle. In the Bedford<br />
Tower, around one hundred members and<br />
guests were treated to a lecture to<br />
celebrate the centenary of the theft of the<br />
‘Irish Crown Jewels’; in the very room<br />
from where they were stolen.<br />
Guest Speaker Myles Dungan gave an<br />
account of the crime that rocked<br />
Edwardian society in 1907, and gave his<br />
opinion of the perpetrators. Many of the<br />
guests on 25th October included<br />
descendants of those involved in the<br />
investigation. This remains one of the<br />
most famous of unsolved cases in Irish<br />
history.<br />
Whoever stole the jewels did so<br />
knowing that they belonged ultimately to<br />
King Edward VII – a not insignificant<br />
victim.<br />
The society is planning a series of<br />
lectures on topical police issues under<br />
their ethos of bringing history to life and<br />
not simply academic. In the near future<br />
they will stage a biography of ‘Lugs’<br />
Branigan to be delivered by Bernard<br />
Neary.<br />
HISTORICAL SOCIETY<br />
In the Bedford Tower Paddy and his brother George Power attended the lecture. Paddy<br />
is a former Assistant Commissioner and is the Life President<br />
of St Paul’s <strong>Garda</strong> Credit Union; George is a retired <strong>Garda</strong><br />
Their website<br />
www.policehistory.com is<br />
back online and is being<br />
updated, and event details will be<br />
published there.<br />
The society is actively seeking new<br />
members, for an annual subscription of<br />
€10, they are entitled to attend three<br />
lectures and will receive a bi-annual <strong>Garda</strong><br />
Gazette. This newsletter will include<br />
features on aspects of Irish policing from<br />
the DMP, RIC and Revenue Police.<br />
Chief Superintendent John Kelly is the<br />
Chairperson of the relaunched society,<br />
with Detective <strong>Garda</strong> Paul Maher fulfilling<br />
the demanding role of Honorary Secretary.<br />
Paul Maher said, “This lecture was<br />
about relaunching the historical society;<br />
we have to thank the Retired Members<br />
Association, particularly John Duffy, for<br />
both financially and with their assistance.<br />
“We plan to have a talk on Detective<br />
Inspector Kearns of the RIC who was<br />
involved in the arrest of Roger Casement<br />
in 1916 that will take place in the <strong>Garda</strong><br />
Club on 30th January.<br />
“We are looking for contributors to the<br />
Gazette – serving members, retired<br />
members or anyone with an interest in<br />
police history. We are also interested in<br />
old photographs.” GR<br />
The <strong>Garda</strong> Síochána Historical Society<br />
can be contacted at the <strong>Garda</strong> Museum,<br />
Dublin Castle on 10 666 9999 or<br />
alternatively info@policehistory.com<br />
HISTORICAL SOCIETY<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 41
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Q. WHO ARE THEY FOR?<br />
A. Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPA)<br />
are not just for the elderly or those<br />
approaching an Alzheimer’s state. They<br />
are designed to assist all responsible<br />
adults who wish to make provisions for<br />
their care in the event of their losing<br />
reasoning abilities. An ‘ordinary’ power<br />
of attorney ceases when the donor (the<br />
person making the provision) loses their<br />
mental capacity. A will only becomes<br />
effective on the death of the testator<br />
(creator). However an EPA bridges the<br />
gap for anybody needing such protection.<br />
Q. WHAT ARE THEY?<br />
A. An EPA is an instrument which<br />
complies with the strict procedural<br />
requirements of the Powers of Attorney<br />
Act 1996. It allows for parties to be<br />
nominated now who may at some time in<br />
the future administer the assets and make<br />
decisions on behalf of the donor when<br />
that donor is deemed to have become<br />
mentally incapable.<br />
Q. WHAT IS INVOLVED IN CREATING<br />
AN EPA?<br />
A. There are a maze of bureaucratic<br />
requirements that must be complied with.<br />
The first and most important is the<br />
choosing of the attorney(s). There is a<br />
requirement that one Attorney be<br />
appointed but it is widely accepted that<br />
more than one attorney should be<br />
appointed, see below. There is also a<br />
mandatory requirement that at least two<br />
persons (Notice Parties) be notified of<br />
the creation of the EPA. A doctor and a<br />
solicitor must also certify that in their<br />
opinion the donor understands the<br />
implications of what they are doing at<br />
the time of the creation of the power.<br />
Once these and other procedural<br />
requirements have been met, the EPA is<br />
put on hold until the attorney(s) or others<br />
form the opinion that the donor is<br />
becoming incapable.<br />
Q. WHAT HAPPENS ONCE THE<br />
DONOR BECOMES INCAPABLE?<br />
A. Once a doctor certifies that the donor<br />
is no longer capable of managing his<br />
affairs and once the legal procedures<br />
have been complied with, the EPA can be<br />
registered (brought into effect). Very<br />
occasionally queries may arise at this<br />
stage that require the adjudication of the<br />
High Court. Should this happen<br />
inevitable delays and costs occur.<br />
ENDURING<br />
POWERS<br />
OF ATTORNEY<br />
Q. WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF AN<br />
ATTORNEY?<br />
A. The attorney assumes a fiduciary<br />
relationship with the donor i.e. they are<br />
required by law to act in his best interest.<br />
They may have to assume responsibility<br />
for bank accounts and the paying of bills<br />
on behalf of the donor. Ultimately they<br />
may have to make decisions about selling<br />
the donor’s home to pay for his medical<br />
or nursing home costs. They must use<br />
separate accounts for the donor’s affairs<br />
and this may be overseen by the Wards of<br />
Courts Office.<br />
Q. WHO CAN BE AN ATTORNEY?<br />
A. Anybody may be appointed an<br />
attorney but care should be taken that the<br />
person or people chosen are trustworthy<br />
and capable of handling the affairs in the<br />
LEGAL<br />
Solicitor David Laffan looks at these relatively<br />
new means by which people in possession of<br />
their mental faculties can make arrangements<br />
concerning their care and their assets should<br />
they ever lose the capacity for clear<br />
reasoning and rational thought.<br />
best interests of the donor. If the assets of<br />
a donor are complicated – investment<br />
properties, equities, rather than solely a<br />
family home and bank/credit union<br />
accounts, great care should be taken in<br />
choosing attorney with the appropriate<br />
skill and expertise for their<br />
administration. Certain parties are<br />
excluded from acting as attorneys i.e.<br />
those convicted of fraud or dishonesty or<br />
those involved in the running of a nursing<br />
home where the donor is resident.<br />
Q. WHAT PROTECTION DOES AN EPA<br />
PROVIDE?<br />
A. The donor has the reassurance of<br />
having chosen an attorney who he deems<br />
most sympathetic to his own views and<br />
therefore most likely to administer his<br />
(her) affairs as he the donor, would have<br />
LEGAL<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 43
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done himself. The Act offers a range of<br />
protections to the donor which will<br />
protect him from unscrupulous or<br />
careless attorneys. The requirement of the<br />
appointment of the notice parties copper<br />
fastens this protection as should any<br />
concerns arise during the implementation<br />
of the EPA, the notice parties may raise<br />
these with the Wards of Court Office who<br />
will investigate matters.<br />
Q. WHAT POWERS CAN THE DONOR<br />
GIVE?<br />
A. The donor can give as much or as<br />
little power to the attorney as he or she<br />
wishes. Most donors tend to give the<br />
attorneys unlimited power. This means<br />
that the attorney is vested with total<br />
power over the donor’s assets i.e. power<br />
to sell any asset and decide where the<br />
donor should live and what treatment the<br />
donor should receive. Should he choose<br />
to have more than one attorney, the donor<br />
can determine whether they should act as<br />
a unit or if that is impractical, that they<br />
may act independently of each other. The<br />
donor can put any restrictions he wishes<br />
into the Power i.e. not to sell a property<br />
or to make donations or gifts to a<br />
particular person.<br />
Q. WHAT HAPPENS ONCE AN EPA<br />
COMES INTO EFFECT?<br />
A. Once the Ward of Courts Office is<br />
satisfied that everything is in <strong>order</strong>, the<br />
EPA becomes effective almost<br />
immediately. It is only at this stage that<br />
the attorney(s) assume the powers<br />
granted by the donor. Once the EPA has<br />
been registered (comes into effect) the<br />
attorney(s) can only relinquish office<br />
with the consent of the High Court and<br />
likewise the donor must seek similar<br />
High Court consent to revoke the power.<br />
Q. WHO SHOULD CREATE AN EPA?<br />
A. An EPA should be considered by all<br />
healthy young people. Who knows when<br />
a stroke or accident may rob us of our<br />
ability to direct our own affairs? With an<br />
EPA we have the comfort of choosing,<br />
while in good health, the person who will<br />
have this great power over our lives,<br />
should we lose the ability to do it for<br />
ourselves. GR<br />
David Laffan is a solicitor with Hughes<br />
Murphy Marcus Lynch. He can be<br />
contacted at 13 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2.<br />
Ph: 01 679 8566. Email:<br />
david.laffan@hmml.ie<br />
NO BONES ABOUT<br />
HER PLACE<br />
AT THE TOP<br />
By Adrian Murphy<br />
They say you should never mix<br />
business with pleasure. This<br />
doesn’t seem to have been a<br />
problem for Kathy Reichs. By<br />
day she’s a respected forensic<br />
anthropologist in both North Carolina<br />
and Quebec and by night she’s the best<br />
selling author of nine books featuring her<br />
heroine Tempe Brennan. Not forgetting<br />
being the executive producer of the<br />
highly acclaimed TV series Bones.<br />
Her latest book is Bones to Ashes. It<br />
begins with Tempe relating the sudden<br />
disappearance of Evangeline Landry<br />
when they were both kids, growing up in<br />
North Carolina. Evangeline originally<br />
came from Tracadie in New Brunswick,<br />
Canada. Push forward to the present<br />
where Tempe is a forensic anthropologist<br />
for the coroner in Quebec, when the<br />
body of a fourteen-year-old girl, who<br />
appears to have been dead for a number<br />
of years, is reluctantly handed over to her<br />
by the coroner in Tracadie. Is this her<br />
long lost childhood friend? Or are they<br />
ancient burial bones as the coroner is so<br />
eager to write them off as?<br />
Aside from that, her erratic love life<br />
takes a sudden downward spiral when<br />
her long-term boyfriend, Detective<br />
Andrew Ryan dumps her. Reeling from<br />
the train wreck of her relationship, her<br />
sister flies in with moral support and they<br />
re-enact a similar search for Evangeline<br />
they embarked on all those years ago.<br />
The book has pace and the dialogue<br />
between the central characters lively;<br />
Tempe’s own inner thoughts coming<br />
straight from the hip. There is a healthy<br />
smattering of French throughout,<br />
bringing the Québec inhabitants to life,<br />
putting the series above the norm for<br />
this style of thriller.<br />
Writers are told to write about what<br />
they know and this is where Reichs<br />
succeeds. Ten years ago, the undisputed<br />
queen of slicem-and-dicem’s was<br />
Patricia Cornwell. Kathy came on the<br />
scene; she hasn’t just left Cornwell<br />
behind, but signed her toe tag too.<br />
I definitely recommend this book but<br />
BOOK REVIEW<br />
be warned; have a bottle of high<br />
strength vitamin pills nearby. The<br />
workload of both these women factually<br />
and fictionally will have you feeling<br />
run-down after the first pages.<br />
All the readers who email in to tell<br />
us what they thought of the book will<br />
be entered into a draw for a €25 book<br />
voucher from Hughes & Hughes.<br />
Email: editor@gardareview.com<br />
€25 VOUCHER WINNER<br />
Sir,<br />
Having read Per Petterson’s book<br />
Out Stealing Horses I must say<br />
that I am somewhat at odds with<br />
your reviewer and his comments<br />
and indeed perception of the book.<br />
I found the book to be a very deep<br />
and moving work about the pain<br />
of being isolated and the loss of<br />
innocence rather than the ‘slowmoving<br />
mess’ which he describes,<br />
whilst I would accept that the<br />
book has a ‘grey’ demeanor it has<br />
this in the vein of lamenting a way<br />
of life gone forever and the<br />
tragedies which lead to the<br />
disintegration of two families.<br />
Best regards,<br />
Kevin Leydon<br />
Tallaght, Dublin 24<br />
BOOK REVIEW<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 45
<strong>Garda</strong>_Nov_07_p47-49:<strong>Garda</strong>_Mar_07-p4-29 11/9/07 12:40 PM Page 47<br />
GAELIC FOOTBALL<br />
WESTERN REGION WIN<br />
THE SEAMUS O’REILLY CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
The finals of the Seamus O’Reilly Inter-<br />
Regional football championship were<br />
played at Bundoran, Co Donegal on the<br />
3rd of October 2007. This competition<br />
which is organised by Coiste Siamsa and<br />
sponsored by St Paul’s <strong>Garda</strong> Credit<br />
Union is going from strength to strength.<br />
The level of interest and the standard<br />
of football ensure that it is the premier<br />
football competition within the force. On<br />
this occasion the semi-finals saw the<br />
Western Region beating the Eastern<br />
Region; while in the other the Northern<br />
Region saw off the challenge of the DMR<br />
South.<br />
In a well contested final the Western<br />
Region were worthy winners overcoming<br />
the challenge presented by the Northern<br />
Region with a score line of 1–12 to<br />
0–07.<br />
Following the days exertions all<br />
participants were treated to a very<br />
pleasant evening in the Holyrood Hotel,<br />
Bundoran where all enjoyed a high<br />
standard of hospitality presented by the<br />
hotel staff.<br />
The captain of the winning Western Region team Don<br />
Connellan receives the cup from Chief Superintendent<br />
Willie Ryan on behalf of Coiste Siamsa.<br />
ANGLING<br />
ALL-IRELAND TEAM<br />
ENTER EUROPEAN<br />
POLICE CHAMPIONSHIPS<br />
By Richard Caplice<br />
The first police to represent Ireland in<br />
the European Police Angling<br />
championships competed at Lohr A<br />
Main, Frankfurt, Germany on the 28 -<br />
29th Sept 2007.<br />
The team comprised members of An<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> Síochána and the Police Service<br />
of Northern Ireland (PSNI). All team<br />
members coped well with the fast<br />
flowing deep river Main.<br />
Youth international Donnacha<br />
Maguire, and circuit hardened Peter O<br />
Connor got to grips with the venue,<br />
but it was the debutant Mark<br />
McGarrity who promised to upset the<br />
odds, out performing everyone.<br />
The German team followed by<br />
Netherlands and the UK made up the<br />
top three nations, followed by Ireland<br />
in a very credible (if profoundly<br />
SPORTSFILE<br />
The winning Western Region Team<br />
D/<strong>Garda</strong> Donncha Maguire (Donnybrook) shows a<br />
1kg bream caught as part of his 5th place catch.<br />
disappointing) fourth. This is the first<br />
experience of outright international<br />
competition, for most of our squad,<br />
and to overcome such strong teams as<br />
the Belgians and the Italians is hugely<br />
to the team’s credit.<br />
The Ireland squad showed serious<br />
determination comradeship, esprit de<br />
corp., and discipline. They conducted<br />
themselves impeccably on and off the<br />
match stretch, and as first time<br />
entrants to this huge event, were much<br />
lauded, by the European organisation,<br />
and all the other participating nations.<br />
St Paul’s <strong>Garda</strong> Credit Union<br />
provided support for the team.<br />
The <strong>Garda</strong> Coarse Angling club are<br />
always seeking new members; those<br />
with no angling experience are always<br />
welcome. Contact D/<strong>Garda</strong> Donncha<br />
Maguire; 087 9089986 or Richard<br />
Caplice; 087 2405317.<br />
Team Ireland Back L-R: D/<strong>Garda</strong> Donncha Maguire<br />
(Donnybrook); <strong>Garda</strong> Peter O Connor<br />
(Ballyfermot); <strong>Garda</strong> Eamonn (Bracken <strong>Garda</strong><br />
Water Unit); Retired D/<strong>Garda</strong> Richard Caplice<br />
(Carrickmacross)<br />
Front L-R: Inspector David Gibson (PSNI);<br />
Constable Mark Mc Garrity (PSNI); D/<strong>Garda</strong> Keith<br />
Coleman (Castlebar); Constable Pete Kime (PSNI)<br />
GARDA SPORTSFILE<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 47
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SNOOKER<br />
GARDA SNOOKER<br />
CHAMPIONSHIPS<br />
The annual <strong>Garda</strong> Snooker<br />
Championships will be held at the<br />
Spawell Complex, Templeogue, Dublin<br />
12. The Coiste Rionne Championship for<br />
the DMR region will be held on<br />
Wednesday 21st November; the Coiste<br />
Siamsa All-Ireland on Wednesday 5th<br />
December.<br />
Both events will commence at 1.30pm<br />
for practice with a scheduled start at 2pm.<br />
Both competitions will include singles<br />
and doubles (members are entitled to<br />
enter either category – but cannot play in<br />
both singles and doubles).<br />
Information: call Tim Meehan on 086<br />
840 5868<br />
The <strong>Garda</strong> College, Templemore as usual<br />
hosted the annual <strong>Garda</strong> 10 mile Road<br />
Race Championship on 13th September<br />
with the majority of runners opting for<br />
the five mile race.<br />
The usual hardcore of between 10-15<br />
runners including Lorraine Manning,<br />
(Balbriggan ) toed the line for the 10 mile<br />
race with Kieran O’Sullivan (Limerick),<br />
Aidan Lanigan (Tallaght) and triathlete<br />
Michael McGloinn; a student on Phase II<br />
at the <strong>Garda</strong> College battling it out up<br />
WOMENS 5 MILE<br />
Leona O’Reilly (SDU) 34m:43s<br />
Jean Twomey (<strong>Garda</strong> College) 41m:00s<br />
Laura Gaffey (<strong>Garda</strong> College) 51m:14s<br />
STUDENTS 5 MILE MEN<br />
Neil Carbery 33m:43s.<br />
Conor Fox 34m:43s<br />
Paul Hayes 34m:45s<br />
front for the overall honours.<br />
At the three mile mark McGloinn fell<br />
off the pace and O’Sullivan and Lanigan<br />
matched stride for stride until the seven<br />
miles when Sullivan upped the pace<br />
ahead of Lanigan with McGloinn further<br />
back in third followed by M.Macken;<br />
L.Manning and J.Corcoran.<br />
Lorraine Manning recorded the fastestever<br />
time by a female <strong>Garda</strong> for a 10 mile<br />
race and finished in fourth place overall<br />
in a time of 61m:53s. This was a super<br />
SPORTSFILE<br />
LADIES FOOTBALL<br />
Kerry ladies fundraiser in memory of Carmel O’Connor<br />
Kerry <strong>Garda</strong> Ladies played a match<br />
against Cordal Ladies in Castleisland in<br />
memory of the late Carmel O’Connor; a<br />
<strong>Garda</strong> who served in Listowel. Gate<br />
receipts totalled €1,415 which was<br />
donated to the Kerry Hospice.<br />
Cordal Ladies won the match by four<br />
points; the <strong>Garda</strong> team are actively<br />
recruiting for 2008 and looking forward<br />
to winning back the shield.<br />
ATHLETICS<br />
COISTE SIAMSA 10 AND 5 MILE CHAMPIONSHIP 2007<br />
By Kevin Grogan<br />
run by Lorraine Manning which bodes<br />
well for the USPE X-Country next March<br />
in France.<br />
Mick Macken was first in the over-40<br />
category and fourth overall in 61m:45s.<br />
Waterford/Kilkenny (J.White; F.Lynch:<br />
J.Cawley) won the Divisional Team<br />
award. Special thanks to Chief<br />
Superintendent McGann who started the<br />
race; Eileen Kelly and Valerie Tobin from<br />
the <strong>Garda</strong> College staff for organising the<br />
race.<br />
GARDA SPORTSFILE<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 49
<strong>Garda</strong>_Nov_07-p51:<strong>Garda</strong>_Mar_07-p4-29 11/12/07 3:32 PM Page 51<br />
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GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 51
<strong>Garda</strong>_Nov_07_p53:<strong>Garda</strong>_Mar_07-p4-29 11/9/07 2:49 PM Page 53<br />
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26. Egret 28. Sterile 33. Armistice 34. Irish 35. Keys 36. Tachograph<br />
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1. Canine. (3)<br />
3. Topple. (11)<br />
8. Petrified remains -<br />
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9. Is this politician the<br />
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10. Synthetic fabric. (5)<br />
11. Walsh might have created<br />
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13. A molar, for example. (5)<br />
15. Might Lear wed in such<br />
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16. Partaking in games. (7)<br />
20. T, or something like it,<br />
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21. Illegally occupy an<br />
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23. Trumpet with a bulge. (5)<br />
24. Last month! (8)<br />
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1. Athy 2. Tinkering 3. Aesop 4. Laser 5. Roam 7. Theta 8. Goalkeeper<br />
9. Compass 13. Ajar 14. Drawers 16. Bottle bank 20. Balalaika 21. Protest<br />
22. Sore 27. Rummy 29. Teeth 30. Ruing 31. Diva 32. Shah<br />
CROSSWORD<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 53
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TRANSFERS<br />
The transfer of the following shall take effect as set out hereunder:-<br />
inthejob<br />
PROMOTION NOTIFICATIONS<br />
Notification is hereby given of the promotion to the rank and pay of Inspector of the undernamed with effect from the 12th October, 2007.<br />
REG. NO. NAME DIVISION<br />
23095B Martin Creighton Change Management<br />
22195C Sean Cullen G.N.I.B.<br />
24001L Henry Fitzpatrick DMR South Central<br />
22238M Joseph Flynn DMR Traffic<br />
24732D David McCarthy Tipperary<br />
25990L Sheamus McCormack G.P.S.U.<br />
25156K Gary McPolin Cork City<br />
24894M David Paul Murphy Donegal<br />
24498H Conor Madden Galway West<br />
24189L Paul Murray G.N.D.U.<br />
REG. NO. NAME RANK FROM TO DATE<br />
21852K Aidan O’Donnell Insp. Whitehall Santry 05/10/2007<br />
24861K David Murphy Sergt. Kildare Carlow 23/10/2007<br />
24928K John Keane Sergt. Terenure Rathmines 23/10/2007<br />
24239L Anthony Merrigan Sergt. Graiguena-managh Waterford 19/09/2007<br />
24937H Patrick Baldwin Sergt. Castlecomer Kilkenny 19/09/2007<br />
22438C Aidan O’Brien Sergt. Mountbellew Roscommon 23/10/2007<br />
22098A John O’Brien <strong>Garda</strong> Ronanstown Bridewell (Courts) 23/10/2007<br />
28801B Marie Masterson <strong>Garda</strong> Tallaght Bridewell (Courts) 23/10/2007<br />
27729M Thomas Doyle <strong>Garda</strong> Lucan Ronanstown 14/09/2007<br />
31369F Thomas Boland <strong>Garda</strong> Bandon Kinsale 23/10/2007<br />
23246G Patrick Burke <strong>Garda</strong> Salthill Galway 23/10/2007<br />
28748B David Kearney <strong>Garda</strong> Listowel Tralee 12/10/2007<br />
25893H John Cronin <strong>Garda</strong> Kenmare Killarney 12/10/2007<br />
28577H Aoife Dolan <strong>Garda</strong> Kenmare Killarney 12/10/2007<br />
01067G Ingrid Moore <strong>Garda</strong> Tullamore Birr 23/10/2007<br />
25737M John Doran <strong>Garda</strong> Kilcormac Clara 23/10/2007<br />
24332K James Kenny <strong>Garda</strong> Birr Kilcormac 23/10/2007<br />
20867A Aiden Corcoran <strong>Garda</strong> Shannonbridge Banagher 23/10/2007<br />
25503C Fergus O’Toole <strong>Garda</strong> Birr Shannon-bridge 23/10/2007<br />
29803D Ciaran McCormack <strong>Garda</strong> Edenderry Tullamore 23/10/2007<br />
27989G Michael O’Connell <strong>Garda</strong> Tullamore Portlaoise 23/10/2007<br />
23788D Mortimer Hennessy <strong>Garda</strong> Tullamore Portlaoise 23/10/2007<br />
26358C Gary Costigan <strong>Garda</strong> Tullamore Portlaosie 23/10/2007<br />
01319F Fiona McHale <strong>Garda</strong> Ballinrobe Ballina 23/10/2007<br />
01386B Fiona Reilly <strong>Garda</strong> Ballina Crossmolina 30/10/2007<br />
28898E Colin Broderick <strong>Garda</strong> Roscommon Ballygar 30/10/2007<br />
27790H Kevin Bolger <strong>Garda</strong> Greystones Bray 11/09/2007<br />
00403M Geraldine Dee <strong>Garda</strong> Bruff Henry Street 11/09/2007<br />
27171C Robert Hyland <strong>Garda</strong> Mountjoy S.D.U. 30/10/2007<br />
29067L Eileen Keogh <strong>Garda</strong> Ballymun S.D.U. 30/10/2007<br />
26781C Eoghain Clerkin <strong>Garda</strong> Cabra S.D.U. 30/10/2007<br />
29366M Valerie Browne <strong>Garda</strong> Santry S.D.U. 30/10/2007<br />
28446G Robert Reilly <strong>Garda</strong> Sundrive Road S.D.U. 30/10/2007<br />
28756C Gerard Ryan <strong>Garda</strong> Rathcoole S.D.U. 30/10/2007<br />
27652K Ciaran Regan <strong>Garda</strong> Ballybay S.D.U. 30/10/2007<br />
27784C Ciaran Hobbs <strong>Garda</strong> Kevin Street S.D.U. 30/10/2007<br />
27395C Keith Fitzpatrick <strong>Garda</strong> Pearse Street S.D.U. 30/10/2007<br />
27436D Paul Ruane <strong>Garda</strong> DMR Traffic S.D.U. 30/10/2007<br />
30265A Timothy Walshe <strong>Garda</strong> Rathmines Terenure 23/10/2007<br />
30632M Michael Waters <strong>Garda</strong> Rathmines Terenure 23/10/2007<br />
32020L Andrew O’Neill <strong>Garda</strong> Rathmines Terenure 23/10/2007<br />
28167M Ronan Clogher <strong>Garda</strong> Rathmines Terenure 23/10/2007<br />
29804B Eoghan Reilly <strong>Garda</strong> Terenure Rathmines 23/10/2007<br />
31107C Liam Gaughan <strong>Garda</strong> Terenure Rathmines 23/10/2007<br />
31777B Peter Lyons <strong>Garda</strong> Terenure Rathmines 23/10/2007<br />
32269E Lydia Burke <strong>Garda</strong> Terenure Rathmines 23/10/2007<br />
30630D Garvan Kelleher <strong>Garda</strong> Terenure Rathmines 23/10/2007<br />
31836A Olwyn Murphy <strong>Garda</strong> Terenure Rathmines 23/10/2007<br />
20479L Michael McKenny <strong>Garda</strong> Mohill Carrick-on-Shannon 09/10/2007<br />
00939C Aisling Tubridy <strong>Garda</strong> Command & Control Change Management 23/10/2007<br />
20913K Michael Neville <strong>Garda</strong> Clonakilty Dunmanway 23/10/2007<br />
30820L Paul Breen <strong>Garda</strong> Bantry Dunmanway 02/11/2007<br />
IN THE JOB<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 55
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REG. NO. NAME RANK FROM TO DATE<br />
32275C John Paul Jones <strong>Garda</strong> Clonakilty Dunmanway 02/11/2007<br />
27428C Shaun Walsh <strong>Garda</strong> <strong>Garda</strong> College Ballina 23/10/2007<br />
28254E Emma McGranaghan <strong>Garda</strong> Services/Tele-communications Telecom-munications, Letterkenny 23/10/2007<br />
28257L Dermot Gowran <strong>Garda</strong> Services/Tele-communications Telecom-munications, Harcourt Tce. 23/10/2007<br />
24776F Nigel O’Neill Sergt. Pearse Street Telecom-munications 22/10/2007<br />
24766K John Moloney Sergt. Roxboro Road Henry Street 13/11/2007<br />
25389H Brendan Keane Sergt. Omeath Dundalk 01/10/2007<br />
00642D Caroline Moloney Sergt. Rathmines Terenure 11/09/2007<br />
00536C Sandra Brennan Sergt. Cabra Security & Intelligence 13/11/2007<br />
25266B Brian Woods Sergt. Tallaght Security & Intelligence 13/11/2007<br />
25882K Declan McCarthy Sergt. Ronanstown Security & Intelligence 13/11/2007<br />
25042B Brian Kelly <strong>Garda</strong> Carlow Roscommon 31/10/2007<br />
01338B Deirdre Fanning <strong>Garda</strong> Celbridge Naas 06/11/2007<br />
21797B John Brady <strong>Garda</strong> Cavan Ballyconnell 22/11/2007<br />
30560L Ian Coughlan <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea St. Barrack St. 22/10/2007<br />
29066A Colin Greenway <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea St. Barrack St. 22/10/2007<br />
32942H Patricia Devine <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea St. Barrack St. 22/10/2007<br />
30682G Michael O’Callaghan <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea St. Barrack St. 22/10/2007<br />
28954L Jaqueline McAuliffe <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea St. Barrack St. 22/10/2007<br />
29904K Cathal O’Regan <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea St. Barrack St. 22/10/2007<br />
01310B Katherine Tansley <strong>Garda</strong> Barrack St. Blackrock (C) 22/10/2007<br />
27979L Patrick Harrington <strong>Garda</strong> Blackrock (C) Bridewell (C) 22/10/2007<br />
22091D Cornelius Delahunty <strong>Garda</strong> Bishopstown Togher 06/11/2007<br />
25598L Aidan Leahy <strong>Garda</strong> Bishopstown Togher 06/11/2007<br />
30431L Simon Whelan <strong>Garda</strong> Togher Douglas 06/11/2007<br />
30438G Lisa Kearney <strong>Garda</strong> Togher Bishopstown 06/11/2007<br />
31684K David Hickey <strong>Garda</strong> Togher Bishopstown 06/11/2007<br />
28175A James O’Sullivan <strong>Garda</strong> Ballincollig Anglesea St. 23/10/2007<br />
01151G Marie Keating <strong>Garda</strong> Gurranabraher Ballincollig 25/09/2007<br />
01040E Deirdre McShea <strong>Garda</strong> Dungloe Castlefin 15/10/2007<br />
32461B Sharon McDowell <strong>Garda</strong> Dundalk Kells 24/09/2007<br />
31364E David Lewis <strong>Garda</strong> Balbriggan Dundalk 24/09/2007<br />
32398E Michael Daly <strong>Garda</strong> Dundalk Drogheda 24/09/2007<br />
29972C Michael Mellody <strong>Garda</strong> Rush Balbriggan 18/10/2007<br />
31343B Diarmuid Lalor <strong>Garda</strong> Balbriggan Skerries 18/10/2007<br />
27415A Darragh Gannon <strong>Garda</strong> Drogheda Skerries 19/10/2007<br />
29653H Ciara Geraghty <strong>Garda</strong> Drogheda Balbriggan 19/10/2007<br />
23606C Peter Mulryan <strong>Garda</strong> Trim Kilmessan 15/11/2007<br />
26182C Brendan Mee <strong>Garda</strong> Tuam Roscommon 06/11/2007<br />
29711K Padraig Kelly <strong>Garda</strong> Ballinasloe Roscommon 06/11/2007<br />
28090K Alan Kelly <strong>Garda</strong> Mountbellew Tuam 06/11/2007<br />
28603F Standish O’Grady <strong>Garda</strong> Roscommon Tuam 06/11/2007<br />
26326E Bartholomew McCarthy <strong>Garda</strong> Dungarvan Lismore 15/10/2007<br />
26593D John O’Dwyer <strong>Garda</strong> Dungarvan Cappoquinn 15/10/2007<br />
30435B Michael Garrett <strong>Garda</strong> Clifden Pearse Street 01/11/2007<br />
29779H Lynda Brosnan <strong>Garda</strong> Bruff Newcastle West 06/11/2007<br />
31535D Michael Gaughan <strong>Garda</strong> Tullamore Castlebar 13/11/2007<br />
26405K Mark Anderson <strong>Garda</strong> G.B.F.I. Security & Intelligence 13/11/2007<br />
27188H Francis Hoban <strong>Garda</strong> Liaison & Protection Security & Intelligence 13/11/2007<br />
25658G John O’Brien <strong>Garda</strong> G.B.F.I. Security & Intelligence 13/11/2007<br />
29183H Padraig Corcoran <strong>Garda</strong> Fitzgibbon Street Security & Intelligence 13/11/2007<br />
29120L Aidan Carroll <strong>Garda</strong> Kevin Street Security & Intelligence 13/11/2007<br />
28130A Elaine Fleming <strong>Garda</strong> Terenure Security & Intelligence 13/11/2007<br />
28664H Tracey Flood <strong>Garda</strong> Dun Laoghaire Security & Intelligence 13/11/2007<br />
00898B Julie Goulding <strong>Garda</strong> Communications Centre Security & Intelligence 13/11/2007<br />
29384K Peter Hayde <strong>Garda</strong> Ronanstown Security & Intelligence 04/12/2007<br />
26861E David Linnane <strong>Garda</strong> Celbridge Security & Intelligence 04/12/2007<br />
01228K Helen Murphy <strong>Garda</strong> Malahide Security & Intelligence 04/12/2007<br />
29874C James Smith <strong>Garda</strong> Store Street Security & Intelligence 04/12/2007<br />
01048K Margaret Twomey <strong>Garda</strong> Blackrock Security & Intelligence 04/12/2007<br />
21031E Martin Cashen Insp. Pearse Street Portlaoise 06/11/2007<br />
22775G Francis Nicholson Insp. Terenure Tuam 06/11/2007<br />
24002H Michael Coppinger Insp. Tuam Galway 06/11/2007<br />
23990K John Galvin Insp. Galway Ennis 06/11/2007<br />
22503G Paul Heffernan Insp. Wexford Dungarvan 06/11/2007<br />
21616L Michael Walsh Insp. Gorey Wexford 06/11/2007<br />
23577F Brian Goulding Insp. Fermoy Midleton 06/11/2007<br />
23671C James Ruane Insp. Letterkenny Roxboro Rd. 25/10/2007<br />
22774K Kenneth Hill Sergt. <strong>Garda</strong> Press Office Internal Affairs 13/11/2007<br />
23655A John McDonald Insp. G.F.P.O. (DMR) G.F.P.O. (Thurles) 05/11/2007<br />
23810D Maurice Sheridan Sergt. G.F.P.O. (DMR) Dun Laoghaire 05/11/2007<br />
21552L Michael Miley Sergt. G.F.P.O. (DMR) G.F.P.O. (DMR Traffic) 05/11/2007<br />
20999F William O’Connell Sergt. Anglesea Street Barrack Street 05/11/2007<br />
24912B John Deasy Sergt. Barrack Street Anglesea Street 13/11/2007<br />
24824L Richard Coughlan Sergt. Templemore Thurles 13/11/2007<br />
26226K Thomas Dunleavy Sergt. Rathfarnham Tallaght 05/11/2007<br />
IN THE JOB<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 57
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REG. NO. NAME RANK FROM TO DATE<br />
25370G Peter Woods Sergt. Dun Laoghaire Dalkey 05/11/2007<br />
24674C Joseph Griffin <strong>Garda</strong> G.F.P.O. (DMR) Dun Laoghaire 05/11/2007<br />
27065B David Conroy <strong>Garda</strong> Tallaght Rathfarnham 05/11/2007<br />
26626D William Niland <strong>Garda</strong> Cabinteely Dun Laoghaire 05/11/2007<br />
26763E Darren Coogan <strong>Garda</strong> Dun Laoghaire Dalkey 05/11/2007<br />
29294L Tadgh Reeves <strong>Garda</strong> Dalkey Dun Laoghaire 05/11/2007<br />
29558B Aidan Ivers <strong>Garda</strong> Cabinteely Dalkey 05/11/2007<br />
29649L Charles Dempsey <strong>Garda</strong> Dalkey Dun Laoghaire 05/11/2007<br />
31031L Jane Ryan <strong>Garda</strong> Dalkey Dun Laoghaire 05/11/2007<br />
28931M Anthony Todd <strong>Garda</strong> Raheny Balbriggan 19/11/2007<br />
01328E Ashling Gannon <strong>Garda</strong> Mountjoy Community Relations 29/11/2007<br />
31897C Alan Burke <strong>Garda</strong> Clonmel Carrick-on-Suir 06/11/2007<br />
31576A Eoin Doyle <strong>Garda</strong> Clonmel Carrick-on-Suir 06/11/2007<br />
31534F Noel Flynn <strong>Garda</strong> Clonmel Carrick-on-Suir 06/11/2007<br />
28972H Padraig O’Keeffe <strong>Garda</strong> Carrick-on-Suir Clonmel 06/11/2007<br />
27244B Michael Hayes <strong>Garda</strong> Carrick-on-Suir Piltown 06/11/2007<br />
24482A Sean Farrell <strong>Garda</strong> Mountbellew Ballinasloe 24/11/2007<br />
21611K Edward Mullarkey <strong>Garda</strong> Laytown Clogherhead 08/11/2007<br />
25881D Thomas Mulcahy <strong>Garda</strong> Innishannon Bandon 23/11/2007<br />
29480B Brendan O’Donovan <strong>Garda</strong> Macroom Bandon 23/11/2007<br />
26444L Edward Holland <strong>Garda</strong> Castletownbere Bandon 23/11/2007<br />
28273A Linda Russell <strong>Garda</strong> Bantry Kanturk 04/12/2007<br />
28134D Maria Roughneen <strong>Garda</strong> Loughrea Internal Affairs 13/11/2007<br />
ALLOCATIONS<br />
REG. NO. NAME RANK STATION ALLOCATION DATE<br />
26969G Derek Clancy Sergt. Mayorstone Detective Duties 11/09/07<br />
24738C Brendan Carroll Sergt. Galway Detective Duties 11/09/07<br />
00596G Eileen O’Connor <strong>Garda</strong> Loughrea Detective Duties 11/09/07<br />
28237E Padraig Sutton <strong>Garda</strong> Henry Street District Clerk 11/09/07<br />
01028F Lynne Nolan <strong>Garda</strong> Balbriggan District Clerk 11/09/07<br />
28414K Michelle Leahy <strong>Garda</strong> Bruff District Clerk 11/09/07<br />
27216G Martin Maloney <strong>Garda</strong> Bridewell J.L.O. 18/09/07<br />
20760H Aidan Boyle Insp. Portlaoise Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
21287C Brendan Burke Insp. N.B.C.I. Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
23323D Martin Cadden Insp. Mullingar Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
22527D Joseph Crowe Insp. N.B.C.I. Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
22178C James Curley Insp. Monaghan Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
22651C Kevin Dolan Insp. Store Street Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
22035C Martin Dorney Insp. Fermoy Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
21705M Patrick Finlay Insp. Roscommon Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
23661F Colm Fox Insp. Blanchardstown Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
23965H John Healy Insp. Bandon Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
22397B Denis Heneghan Insp. G.B.F.I. Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
24524M Edward Henry Insp. N.B.C.I. Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
23692F Daniel Keane Insp. Tralee Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
24126A Michael Leacy Insp. Waterford Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
20845M Richard McDonnell Insp. Lucan Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
22137F Kevin Moynihan Insp. Ennis Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
23989E John O’Reilly Insp. Sligo Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
23720E John Quilter Insp. Anglesea Street Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
23527L Kevin Ring Insp. C.A.B. Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
24155E Gerard Roche Insp. Galway Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
00572L Angela Willis Insp. Raheny Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
22017E Colm Church Insp. S.D.U. Detective Duties 04/10/2007<br />
27787H Patrick Lyons <strong>Garda</strong> Gurranabraher Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
26606L James O’Shea <strong>Garda</strong> Watercourse Road Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
27554K Eamonn Fehin <strong>Garda</strong> Togher Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
27108L Paul Aherne <strong>Garda</strong> Gurranabraher Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
27642A Niall O’Connell <strong>Garda</strong> Watercourse Road Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
29431D Emmet Daly <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
26760M Andrew O’Connell <strong>Garda</strong> Barrack Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
27209D Neill Walsh <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
27722C Joseph Young <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
27552B Cormac O’Crotaigh <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
28098D Sean McCarthy <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
01144D Mary Skehan <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
01323D Joanne O’Brien <strong>Garda</strong> Watercourse Road Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
00963F Sharon Sweeney <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
28638K Paul Radley <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
26968K Leonard O’Sullivan <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
28998A Patrick Prendergast <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
27288D Denis O’Mahony <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
26723F Mark Keating <strong>Garda</strong> Mayfield Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
27810F Rory McGrath <strong>Garda</strong> Ballincollig Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
27634M Oisin Cotter <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
IN THE JOB<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 59
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REG. NO. NAME RANK STATION ALLOCATION DATE<br />
26615K William Lingane <strong>Garda</strong> Watercourse Road Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
26837B Martin McSweeney <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
29206M Michael Murphy <strong>Garda</strong> Douglas Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
27555G Martin McHale <strong>Garda</strong> Henry Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
27991K Kieran Crowley <strong>Garda</strong> Mayorstone Park Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
26633G Gearoid Thompson <strong>Garda</strong> Mayorstone Park Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
25763L Cathal O’Neill <strong>Garda</strong> Henry Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
27832G Enda Haugh <strong>Garda</strong> Mayorstone Park Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
29269K Joseph O’Sullivan <strong>Garda</strong> Askeaton Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
29833F James Muldoon <strong>Garda</strong> Henry Street Detective Duties 09/10/2007<br />
26110F John Davis <strong>Garda</strong> Glanmire Detective Duties 16/10/2007<br />
23823F Thomas O’Halloran <strong>Garda</strong> Midleton Detective Duties 16/10/2007<br />
29395D Kathleen O’Sullivan <strong>Garda</strong> Fermoy Detective Duties 16/10/2007<br />
29328H Cormac Ryan <strong>Garda</strong> Fermoy Detective Duties 16/10/2007<br />
25413D Bernard Casey <strong>Garda</strong> Killaloe Detective Duties 16/10/2007<br />
26494F John Mulvihill <strong>Garda</strong> Killaloe Detective Duties 16/10/2007<br />
20479L Michael McKenny <strong>Garda</strong> Carrick-on-Shannon District Clerk 22/08/2007<br />
26999K Moses Harnett <strong>Garda</strong> Watercourse Rd. Juvenile Liaison Officer 17/09/2007<br />
29798D Aisling Colclough <strong>Garda</strong> Mountmellick Official Accommodation 16/10/2007<br />
27171C Robert Hyland <strong>Garda</strong> S.D.U. Detective Duties 30/10/2007<br />
29067L Eileen Keogh <strong>Garda</strong> S.D.U. Detective Duties 30/10/2007<br />
26781C Eoghain Clerkin <strong>Garda</strong> S.D.U. Detective Duties 30/10/2007<br />
29366M Valerie Browne <strong>Garda</strong> S.D.U. Detective Duties 30/10/2007<br />
28446G Robert Reilly <strong>Garda</strong> S.D.U. Detective Duties 30/10/2007<br />
28756C Gerard Ryan <strong>Garda</strong> S.D.U. Detective Duties 30/10/2007<br />
27652K Ciaran Regan <strong>Garda</strong> S.D.U. Detective Duties 30/10/2007<br />
27784C Ciaran Hobbs <strong>Garda</strong> S.D.U. Detective Duties 30/10/2007<br />
27395C Keith Fitzpatrick <strong>Garda</strong> S.D.U. Detective Duties 30/10/2007<br />
27436D Paul Ruane <strong>Garda</strong> S.D.U. Detective Duties 30/10/2007<br />
28560K Denis Ryan <strong>Garda</strong> Fermoy Detective Duties 24/09/2007<br />
29037H Catherine Bothwell <strong>Garda</strong> C.A.B. Detective Duties 11/09/2007<br />
28750D Michael Kelly <strong>Garda</strong> Tuam Detective Duties 16/10/2007<br />
01386B Fiona Reilly <strong>Garda</strong> Crossmolina Official Accommodation 30/10/2007<br />
28898E Colin Broderick <strong>Garda</strong> Ballygar Official Accommodation 30/10/2007<br />
27790H Kevin Bolger <strong>Garda</strong> Bray District Clerk 11/09/2007<br />
28385A Annamarie Guiney <strong>Garda</strong> Midleton District Clerk 24/09/2007<br />
00536C Sandra Brennan Sergt. Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 13/11/2007<br />
00672F Evelyn Doherty Sergt. Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 13/11/2007<br />
25266B Brian Woods Sergt. Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 13/11/2007<br />
25882K Declan McCarthy Sergt. Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 13/11/2007<br />
26405K Mark Anderson <strong>Garda</strong> Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 13/11/2007<br />
27188H Francis Hoban <strong>Garda</strong> Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 13/11/2007<br />
25658G John O’Brien <strong>Garda</strong> Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 13/11/2007<br />
29183H Padraig Corcoran <strong>Garda</strong> Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 13/11/2007<br />
29120L Aidan Carroll <strong>Garda</strong> Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 13/11/2007<br />
28130A Elaine Fleming <strong>Garda</strong> Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 13/11/2007<br />
28664H Tracey Flood <strong>Garda</strong> Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 13/11/2007<br />
00898B Julie Goulding <strong>Garda</strong> Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 13/11/2007<br />
29384K Peter Hayde <strong>Garda</strong> Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 04/12/2007<br />
26861E David Linnane <strong>Garda</strong> Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 04/12/2007<br />
01228K Helen Murphy <strong>Garda</strong> Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 04/12/2007<br />
29874C James Smith <strong>Garda</strong> Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 04/12/2007<br />
01048K Margaret Twomey <strong>Garda</strong> Security & Intelligence Detective Duties 04/12/2007<br />
29441A Jennifer Ryan <strong>Garda</strong> Mooncoin Official Accommodation 06/11/2007<br />
ALLOCATION OF NEWLY PROMOTED PERSONNEL<br />
REG. NO. NAME RANK FROM TO EXPENSE DATE<br />
23095B Martin Creighton Insp. Change Management Change Management Public 06/11/2007<br />
22195C Sean Cullen Insp. G.N.I.B. Pearse Street Public 06/11/2007<br />
24001L Henry Fitzpatrick Insp. Pearse Street Terenure Public 06/11/2007<br />
22238M Joseph Flynn Insp. D.M.R. Traffic Blackrock (D) Public 06/11/2007<br />
24732D David McCarthy Insp. Thurles Thurles Public 06/11/2007<br />
25990L Sheamus McCormack Insp. G.P.S.U. G.P.S.U. Public 06/11/2007<br />
25156K Gary McPolin Insp. Blackrock (C) Gorey Public 06/11/2007<br />
24894M David Paul Murphy Insp. Buncrana Letterkenny Public 06/11/2007<br />
24498H Conor Madden Insp. Loughrea Castlerea Public 06/11/2007<br />
24189L Paul Murray Insp. G.N.D.U. Communications Centre Public 06/11/2007<br />
VACANCY FOR DETECTIVE SERGEANTS AND DETECTIVE GARDAI AT SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE, CRIME AND SECURITY, GARDA HEADQUARTERS.<br />
The following members have been successful in the above competition.<br />
REG. NO. RANK NAME STATION<br />
00536C Sergt. Sandra Brennan Cabra<br />
00672F Sergt. Evelyn Doherty Security and Intelligence<br />
25266B Sergt. Brian Woods Tallaght<br />
25882K Sergt. Declan McCarthy Ronanstown<br />
IN THE JOB<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 61
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REG. NO. RANK NAME STATION<br />
26405K <strong>Garda</strong> Mark Anderson G.B.F.I.<br />
27188H <strong>Garda</strong> Francis Hoban Liaison and Protection<br />
25658G <strong>Garda</strong> John O’Brien G.B.F.I.<br />
29183H <strong>Garda</strong> Padraig Corcoran Fitzgibbon Street<br />
29120L <strong>Garda</strong> Aidan Carroll Kevin Street<br />
28130A <strong>Garda</strong> Elaine Fleming Terenure<br />
28664H <strong>Garda</strong> Tracey Flood Dun Laoghaire<br />
00898B <strong>Garda</strong> Julie Goulding Communications<br />
29384K <strong>Garda</strong> Peter Hayde Ronanstown<br />
26861E <strong>Garda</strong> David Linnane Celbridge<br />
01228K <strong>Garda</strong> Helen Murphy Malahide<br />
29874C <strong>Garda</strong> James Smith Store Street<br />
01048K <strong>Garda</strong> Margaret Twomey Blackrock<br />
RETIREMENTS, DEATHS & DISCHARGES<br />
REG. NO. NAME RANK STATION EFFECTIVE DATE CAUSE<br />
32600C Michael Rogan <strong>Garda</strong> Portlaoise 22/09/2007 Resignation<br />
25163A Brian McSharry <strong>Garda</strong> Buncrana 25/09/2007 Dismissal<br />
21445M Fergus Kelly Sergt. Glanmire 26/09/2007 Retirement<br />
32510D Darragh O’Sullivan <strong>Garda</strong> Cahir 27/09/2007 Resignation<br />
29632E Nicola Hayes <strong>Garda</strong> Donnybrook 30/09/2007 Resignation<br />
18942A Gerald Kelliher <strong>Garda</strong> Anglesea Street 30/09/2007 Retirement<br />
31808F James Swan <strong>Garda</strong> Sundrive Road 30/09/2007 Resignation<br />
30195G Edward Kenneally <strong>Garda</strong> Clontarf 04/10/2007 Resignation<br />
19171L Bernard Gibbons <strong>Garda</strong> Tallaght 05/10/2007 Retirement<br />
20565F Oliver Dooley <strong>Garda</strong> S.D.U. 05/10/2007 Retirement<br />
31571M Emmanuel Kavanagh <strong>Garda</strong> Portlaoise 05/10/2007 Resignation<br />
29125M Linda Kelly <strong>Garda</strong> Store Street 08/10/2007 Resignation<br />
30747E Bernard Sheary <strong>Garda</strong> Tullamore 09/10/2007 Resignation<br />
27247B Patrick Horan <strong>Garda</strong> Watercourse Road 10/10/2007 Resignation<br />
19304F John Whelan Sergt. Abbeyfeale 11/10/2007 Retirement<br />
18896D Michael Matthews <strong>Garda</strong> Pearse Street 19/10/2007 Retirement<br />
20809D David Ryan <strong>Garda</strong> Cahir 20/10/2007 Retirement<br />
20266E Donal McCarthy <strong>Garda</strong> Piltown 21/10/2007 Retirement<br />
20757H James Devaney <strong>Garda</strong> S.D.U. 21/10/2007 Retirement<br />
32071D Robert Young <strong>Garda</strong> Raheny 24/10/2007 Deceased<br />
19896L John Hynes <strong>Garda</strong> Kilrickle 25/10/2007 Retirement<br />
20706C Michael Rogers <strong>Garda</strong> Sligo 25/10/2007 Retirement<br />
19300C Matthew Robinson <strong>Garda</strong> S.D.U. 26/10/2007 Retirement<br />
CANCELLATIONS AND AMENDMENTS<br />
BULLETIN NO. REG. NO. NAME RANK FROM TO DATE<br />
19/07 22785D Brendan Fogarty Insp. Bandon Bantry Deferred<br />
18/07 01319F Fiona McHale <strong>Garda</strong> Ballinrobe Ballina Deferred<br />
18/07 32213L Colin O’Mahony <strong>Garda</strong> Shannon Bantry Cancelled<br />
16/07 32151F Rory Harding <strong>Garda</strong> Shannon Midleton Cancelled<br />
16/07 29788G Aidan Forrest <strong>Garda</strong> Gurranabraher Anglesea Street Cancelled<br />
17/07 22035C Martin Dorney Insp. Midleton Fermoy Deferred<br />
17/07 23364A James Murphy Insp. Dun Laoghaire Whitehall 04/10/2007<br />
17/07 23081B John O’Driscoll Insp. Santry Dundrum 04/10/2007<br />
17/07 29328H Cormac Ryan <strong>Garda</strong> Midleton Fermoy Cancelled<br />
16/07 18613K James Fitzpatrick Sergt. Carna Clifden 10/10/2007<br />
16/07 26397D Finbar O’Sullivan Sergt. Waterford Graiguena-managh 11/09/2007<br />
16/07 32213L Colin O’Mahony <strong>Garda</strong> Shannon Bantry 02/11/2007<br />
15/07 27146B John Coggins <strong>Garda</strong> Ashbourne Ardee Cancelled<br />
18/07 18613K James Fitzpatrick Sergt. Carna Clifden Deferred<br />
17/07 23720E John Quilter D/Insp. Mayfield Anglesea St. Cancelled<br />
17/07 22785D Brendan Fogarty Insp Bandon Bantry 01/11/2007<br />
17/07 24002H Micheal Coppinger Insp. Letterkenny Tuam 26/10/2007<br />
17/07 24653M Ernest White Insp. Ballyshannon Salthill 08/10/2007<br />
05/07 23942K Martin Drew Sergt. Raheny Santry 25/06/2007<br />
17/07 01311M Stephanie Hegarty <strong>Garda</strong> Killarney Tralee Deferred<br />
17/07 26570E David McKeigue <strong>Garda</strong> DMR Traffic Galway Deferred<br />
16/07 28989B Darrell Fitzpatrick <strong>Garda</strong> Dalkey Bailieboro Cancelled<br />
16/07 32911H Terence Farrelly <strong>Garda</strong> <strong>Garda</strong> College Navan 14/09/2007<br />
16/07 32926F Paul Gill <strong>Garda</strong> <strong>Garda</strong> College Dundalk 14/09/2007<br />
16/07 33079E Kieran Kelly <strong>Garda</strong> <strong>Garda</strong> College Dundalk 14/09/2007<br />
16/07 32915M Michelle Murray <strong>Garda</strong> <strong>Garda</strong> College Dundalk 14/09/2007<br />
16/07 33090F Paul Burke <strong>Garda</strong> <strong>Garda</strong> College Dundalk 14/09/2007<br />
16/07 32919C John Newman <strong>Garda</strong> <strong>Garda</strong> College Togher 14/09/2007<br />
16/07 30463H Sarah Lee <strong>Garda</strong> Buncrana Ballinasloe 16/10/2007<br />
16/07 29966K Donal Hallinan <strong>Garda</strong> Store Street Mountbellew 16/10/2007<br />
16/07 26398B Gary Frehill <strong>Garda</strong> Gort Granard Cancelled<br />
10/07 28897G Brian Begley <strong>Garda</strong> Tralee Ardnacrusha 10/07/2007<br />
IN THE JOB<br />
GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 63
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END FRAME<br />
A dying<br />
declaration<br />
By WGA Scott<br />
Police officers perform many<br />
unpleasant tasks, but for me there<br />
was no duty more upsetting than<br />
attending a dying declaration and<br />
the ensuing post mortem. A dying<br />
declaration is a statement made verbally<br />
or in writing by a dying victim who must<br />
be fully aware that they are about to die<br />
and have given up all hope of recovery; it<br />
is admissible in evidence in subsequent<br />
court proceedings.<br />
Late in 1958 I was on operational duty<br />
in a patrol car in Harlesden in North<br />
London, driven by PC ‘Brakes’<br />
Brakespeare. We got a call to go to a<br />
local address to investigate an assault,<br />
arriving simultaneously with an<br />
ambulance and I followed the medics<br />
who carried a stretcher up the stairs to a<br />
self-contained apartment. Lying on the<br />
kitchen floor in a large pool of blood was<br />
1940: Picture from the archives<br />
courtesy of D/<strong>Garda</strong> Ian Redican<br />
END FRAME<br />
64 � GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007<br />
a handsome young black woman; clearly<br />
in pain. She had been stabbed in each<br />
breast and twice in the back of the neck<br />
with a very sharp instrument.<br />
The attendants put her on the stretcher<br />
and carried her down the stairs. I asked<br />
one of the men what her chances were of<br />
recovering? He replied, in a whisper.<br />
“She’s a goner, officer.” I accompanied<br />
the woman in the ambulance as they took<br />
her to hospital – as it warranted a dying<br />
declaration. I held her hand and asked her<br />
the questions; she was very distressed and<br />
replied in a very low voice.<br />
“I WAS GOING OUT WITH<br />
OTHER MEN AND I WOULD<br />
NOT GIVE THEM UP”<br />
GARDA:“Do you know you are going<br />
to die?”<br />
WOMAN:“Yes.”<br />
G:“Have you given up all hope of<br />
recovery?”<br />
W:“Yes.”<br />
G:“Who did this to you?”<br />
W:“My husband.”<br />
G:“What did he do it with?”<br />
W:“A butcher’s knife.”<br />
G:“Where is the knife now?”<br />
W:“Back in the flat.”<br />
G:“Why did he do it to you?”<br />
W:“I was going out with other men and I<br />
would not give them up.”<br />
I recorded all the questions and<br />
answers plus the day, date, time and<br />
place in my official notebook. I<br />
telephoned the station officer at<br />
Harlesden who sent a car to collect me.<br />
There I found that my colleague, PC<br />
Brakespeare, had arrested the victim’s<br />
husband. The victim died in the night and<br />
it became a murder investigation.<br />
The following morning I went to<br />
Willesden mortuary, to identify the body.<br />
Even in death she was very handsome. I<br />
accepted a cup of tea from the mortuary<br />
attendant; when the tea was made he<br />
went to draw and opened it, and removed<br />
a bottle of milk from between the feet of<br />
a well-frozen corpse. Worse was to come.<br />
He finished the tea, muttered there was<br />
work to be done and taking out a long<br />
knife, immediately began to cut a deep<br />
line around the head of the corpse – just<br />
above the top of her ears – and began to<br />
peel off her scalp. He produced a surgical<br />
saw and was just about to start cutting<br />
along the line where the scalp had been<br />
removed when the pathologist arrived. I<br />
identified the body and made an exit; I<br />
had seen more than enough butchery in<br />
the last 24 hours.<br />
Six weeks later, the husband was<br />
convicted of murder and sentenced to life<br />
imprisonment. GR<br />
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