‘Lack of community guard is a big loss’

The country’s longest serving garda would love to see the force return to closer contact with the community.

Garda Martin O’Malley, who retires this week after 38 years in the same station, said: “The lack of the community guard is a big loss, definitely. They now try to treat the Garda Síochána as a business instead of as a service to the people.”

Villagers in Ballintra, Co Donegal, are planning a huge party for him in their local community centre on Friday, his retirement day.