Garda chief: Retirements will leave big gaps in force

The country’s top garda has admitted there will be “significant gaps” in the force as a result of almost 300 gardaí retiring in the first two months of 2012.

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan revealed yesterday that many senior-ranking gardaí were having to manage two regions due to the large number of their colleagues who are retiring before the end of February to obtain more favourable pension arrangements.

“It is proving to be quite difficult,” he said.