Firm wins garda uniforms contract

A firm has won a €12.6m contract to supply uniforms to gardaí for the next three years, it emerged today.

James Boylan Safety (JBS) Ltd, of Co Monaghan, beat off competition from 11 other rival bids to secure the tender to fit out about 12,000 officers.

The JBS group, which is based in Milltown in Monaghan town, also supplies work uniforms for the Defence Forces and the Irish Coastguard as well as the OPW and the Revenue Commissioners.

In 2005, Derry-based firm Hunter Apparel won the contract to supply new uniforms, including a new light-weight blouson jacket, to more than 10,500 Garda officers

The Government Supplies Agency (GSA) vetted the tender applications in recent months in consultation with senior Garda management.