A total of 263 Gardaí, comprising 151 men and 112 women, graduated from the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary on Thursday last and will now be posted to various Garda stations around the country.
Thursday’s passing out ceremony will be followed by a further graduation in October. From October next, the college will remain empty because no new recruits from existing panels have been offered posts over the past two years, as a direct result of the Garda recruitment embargo currently in place.
Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform Dermot Ahern stated, “Plans were already in place to begin recruitment again. The timing however of the next recruitment drive and the numbers to be hired had not yet been determined. While the country is in a challenging economic position, the Government is committed to maintaining Garda numbers as high as possible.”
At Thursday’s ceremony, the “Commissioner’s Medal“, presented to a student Garda who achieves the highest academic scores during Garda training, was awarded to Garda Majella O’Sullivan, who is a native of Clonmel, in Co Tipperary and who will be stationed at Tallaght Garda Station.
The “Templemore Town Council Medal”, awarded for outstanding achievement and appreciation in the area of Social Science Studies, was presented to Garda Cathal Murphy, a native of Bishopstown, Co Cork, who will be stationed at a Garda Station, in Co Meath.
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