Garda Reserve an expensive mistake, claim garda leaders

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell’s plans for a Garda Reserve have failed and landed the taxpayer with an “expensive mistake,” a damning statement from rank and file garda leaders claimed yesterday.

Despite Garda Representative Association (GRA) members voting in favour of the reserve when they accepted a pay deal in November, representatives lashed out at Mr McDowell’s initiative yesterday.

“It is now obvious that the Garda Reserve has failed,” read a statement from the GRA’s Dublin headquarters.