WOMEN recruits received the three main awards in the graduation ceremony for 78 student gardai at the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, yesterday.
Women students are regularly achieving awards at the college despite their fewer numbers. Only 18 of the 78 recruits graduating were women.
The awards were presented by the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, who told the recruits they were entering a new environment for policing. "We are entering a new era in the fight against crime," she said.
The winners of the prizes were Garda Mary Ann O'Boyle, from Co Mayo; Garda Martina O'Ryan, from Co Waterford; and Garda Eileen Kelly, from Co Cork.
Garda O'Boyle, from Castlebar, won the Commissioner's medal for the highest aggregate marks in legal, policing and technical studies, social sciences, communications, physical education, Gaeilge and dissertation.
She already has a BA (hons) in mathematics and economics, a diploma in education, and is a qualified secondary school teacher. She taught at Mayo VEC before being accepted to the Garda College in 1995. She is being stationed in Pearse Street, Dublin.
Garda O'Ryan won the Gary Sheehan Memorial Medal, named in commemoration of the Garda recruit shot dead by the IRA in Co Leitrim in 1982. The medal is awarded to the student who excels in academic studies and makes the most significant contribution to the station and community in which she has served on probation. She has a degree from University College, Cork and holds a number of all Ireland medals for Gaelic football and volleyball. She will be stationed in Enniscorthy.
The Templemore medal for the student showing the most insight and imagination, as well as achieving distinction in academic and social studies went to Garda Eileen Kelly, from Newmarket, Co Cork. She was cited for her "patience, commitment and kindness" in helping mentally impaired children in her free time while she was on probation in Cork. She will be stationed in Dundalk.
Women are still under represented in the Garda in comparison to other forces. There are no female officers above superintendent rank. Only two of the 162 superintendents are women. About 8 per cent of the force is female.