Most new gardaí sent to gang-hit communities

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is sending 80% of new recruits to Dublin and Louth to reassure communities blighted by gang violence that An Garda Síochána is “the force of law and order”. He also told cocaine users they were funding gangs involved in “vicious feuds” seen in north and west Dublin and in Drogheda.

At the passing out of 201 new gardaí in Templemore College yesterday, Mr Harris said his decision to send almost 160 of the newly-trained members to Dublin and Louth was a “very deliberate” one.