New gardai graduate at Templemore

The Garda Síochána has 113 new members following today’s graduation ceremony at Templemore.

The Minster for Justice, Mr O’Donoghue, presented certificates to 47 new bangardaí and 86 gardaí at the Garda College.

Mr O’Donoghue said there were now over 11,000 gardaí on the force. The budget for the Garda for this year is £693 million, an increase of 48 per cent since 1997.

"It is my policy...to ensure that the Gardaí have at their disposal the most modern equipment available to enable them to operate effectively in the fight against crime," he said, adding that a second helicopter would be provided for the Air Support Unit later this year. This will allow 24-hour operation of the service.

Mr O’Donoghue said the CCTV initiative in Dublin and Tralee is being followed in Cork, and £12 million would be allocated over the next three years to install cameras in other towns. He also announced that a grant assistance system would be introduced to allow smaller communities to set up their own CCTV networks.

Garda Karen McDonnell from Dunleer, Co Louth, was awarded the Commissioner’s Medal for her academic achievements, heading the new recruits. She will be based at Santry station.

The Gary Sheehan Memorial Medal, which commemorates a Garda recruit killed on duty in 1983, was presented to Garda Stephen Meighan from The Ward, Co Dublin, for being the best overall student. Garda Meighan will based in Howth.