Garda Reserve officers to graduate

An air traffic controller and a bus driver are among the latest batch of Garda Reserve members set to graduate tomorrow.

A total of 48 Garda Reserves, including four aged over 50, will be sworn-in at the Garda College by Commissioner Noel Conroy.

Gardaí say the reserve officers, including 32 men and 16 women, have been in training since January.

Representatives of the garda rank and file expressed concerns over the formation of the reserve to undertake part-time policing duties.

But the Department of Justice has argued a reserve force is a standard policing tool in many other countries and is intended to support full-time officers.

The Gardaí today said the latest reserve officers are drawn from a diverse range of employment backgrounds including banking, social work, teaching, bus driving, nursing, sales and air traffic control.

Figures released on the age of the graduates show 13 are aged between 20 to 29 years, 19 are in their 30s, 12 are in their 40s and four are aged between 50 and 59.

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell is to attend the ceremony after which the reserve officers will begin work in parts of Dublin, Galway, Clare, Limerick and Sligo.