24 temporary gardaí for Christmas

More than 20 temporary gardaí are to take up posts on Leeside for the Christmas season.

The 24 temporary gardaí will be working with Cork City Division from 2 December until 2 January, it was announced this week. Along with the 24 temporary gardaí, eight probationary gardaí will be coming from the garda college in Templemore next month, too. After 2 January, the temporary gardaí will be assigned to different garda stations throughout the country.

The news was confirmed by Chief Superintendent Barry McPolin during a Joint Policing Committee meeting in Cork County Hall and comes after some criticism in the past about the lack of garda resources in Cork city and county.

“We could always do with more gardaí,” said Chief Superintendent McPolin while adding the eight new gardaí will be stationed throughout the city.

Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said after that meeting that while he welcomed the additional garda resources he said it didn’t go far enough.

“It isn’t anywhere near enough, but I know it will provide some level of reassurance to the people of Cork in the coming weeks amid growing concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour in the city,” he said.