Garda Reserve ‘a threat to city security’

LIMERICK’S crime gangs could infiltrate the proposed Garda Reserve Force, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors warned last night.

Limerick branch chairman Seamus Gallagher said a reserve opened a very real threat to security in Limerick.

Mr Gallagher said: "Our members have a well founded fear that members of the Garda Reserve could have connections with local crime gangs and they could use the access to the garda computer system Pulse and garda documents to provide them with information. This information could be used to frustrate the efforts of gardaí to bring them to justice."

He said there was no doubt but that relatives and friends of criminal gangs will apply for membership of the reserve.

"And I have no doubt they will be able to get through the proposed vetting procedures. Once in stations they will have access to the Pulse computer system and garda documents and who knows what might happen. Remember, these people will be part-time and unpaid, they will have no long term loyalty to the garda forcer and if anything happens all they have to do is walk away," he said.

Many AGSI members joined in the condemnation of the proposed reserve force at the annual general meeting of the branch.

Mr Gallagher said: "Neither the members of the Garda Siochána nor the public realised how far reaching these proposals were until the president of our association, Joe Dirwan went public about the reserve and labelled it a 'mad hatter' idea."

Mr Gallagher said it was a ridiculous proposal to hand full police powers to more than 4,000 civilians after a weekend training at the Garda College along with a total of 24 hours additional training.

He said the members of the new reserve force will not have to pass an aptitude test which is obligatory for candidates wishing to join the garda.

Mr Gallagher said: "They will not have the same residential restrictions as a garda and as a result neighbour will be able to arrest neighbour under this scheme."

He called on Defence Minister Willie O'Dea to back their demands for the scrapping of the reserve force proposal.

"The Government should abandon this wild scheme before irreparable damage is done to An Garda Siochána and policing in this country and to the morale of the force," said Mr Gallagher.