TD calls for end to upper age limit for garda recruits

THE age limit to join the gardaí should be abolished to create a more experienced force, Fianna Fáil TD Jim Glennon said yesterday.

Mr Glennon said there was an urgent need to review the ban on recruiting people over the age of 26 following the interim report of the Morris Tribunal.

"The difficulties manifesting themselves in the Morris Tribunal are probably institutional. You have fellows going into the force in their early 20s and they see the way it's done. I don't know if more experienced people would accept it (bad practice) so readily," he said.

The Morris Tribunal found garda members orchestrated the planting of ammunition and hoax explosives in Co Donegal and that senior Garda management were guilty of gross negligence.

Mr Glennon said it had been an honourable decision for the former head of the Donegal Division, Chief Supt Denis Fitzpatrick, to resign. But he said it was time for more reforms, including the abolition of the "discriminatory and wholly unnecessary" age limit.

"The age limit was drawn up when there was limited mobility in the workforce. But things have changed and it doesn't make sense any more."

"Every organisation in the world benefits from mature and experienced recruits why would An Garda Síochána be any different? "

Mr Glennon added that the Police Service of Northern Ireland recruited people aged 18-52.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said it had no objection to the abolition of the age limit. But general secretary PJ Stone said it could lead to difficulties with pensions.

"The Government could recruit people for 10 years and they would not have to pay them a proper pension. That would be policing on the cheap."