Garda reserves signing up to be full members

MEMBERS of the Garda Reserve have begun signing up as full members of the force.

Up to 214 garda reservists are now stationed in divisions nationwide as well as training in the Garda College.

Since the first group of garda reserves hit the streets on December 15, a number have opted to take the next step in the fight against crime.

Since June, two reservists left their division and another is due to start full garda training on August 8. They face training for another two years.

Superintendent Simon O’Connor, who is in charge of the Garda Reserve, explained: “We have some who want to join the guards and they are using this as a feeler for it. What if they do two years down in Templemore and say ‘God, this is not for me’. Three people based in Dublin have gone into the regular gardaí already.”

A female garda reserve, due to begin training next month, worked as an architect for seven years in Ballymun, Dublin.

Meanwhile, the 117 fully qualified members of the Garda Reserve have been enforcing the law alongside detectives in stations. Already, heroic stories have emerged.

“The other night in Dublin city centre one member, along with a detective, caught a burglar. It was during a handbag snatch and it emerged the guy was responsible for five burglaries,” said Supt O’Connor.

Another member also arrested a robber outside a Dublin shop recently.

Members of the Garda Reserve have the power of arrest. They can demand driving licences and can deal with the offences of intoxication, threatening behaviour, disorderly conduct and failure to comply with the direction of a member of the force.

They can also deal with theft and burglary.

“People were concerned before but there’s been no issues at all. People have accepted them with open arms. We’re taking them in every month now. We aim for 30 in a class,” added Supt O’Connor.

Another 97 are training, including 23 who enrolled this month, at the Garda College in Templemore, Tipperary.

No complaints have been made by the public against members. Furthermore, while on the beat none received serious injuries.

The 117 trained members include two Chinese men as well as a woman from Belarus.

Reserve Garda Ke Sheng is one of those and a student from the Liao Ning province of China, who moved to Ireland in 2001 and now works with gardaí in Pearse Street Garda Station.