Tattoo taboo: Do the Gardaí need to cop on?

Tattoos were once the preserve of prisoners and sailors, but now they are ubiquitous amongst younger people, does An Garda Síochána need to relax their rules on so-called 'jobstoppers', Ellie O’Byrne asks.

Poet Susanne Fiessler, whose stage name is Rosalin Blue, said: "I would find it quite upsetting if someone couldn’t become a Garda because they have a commemorative tattoo for their son on their hand.” Picture: Denis Minihane

It may seem like a storm in a teacup, but in the midst of a Garda recruitment and retention crisis, news last week that a new trainee Garda had been booted out of Templemore after a week for having a tattoo of a lion on his hand may have serious implications.

The 32-year-old male from Munster was one of three new recruits removed from their training for breaches of Garda uniform and dress code, which states: “Body art (tattoos) on the face, or visible above the collar, are not permitted. All other tattoos will be covered at all times while on duty, whether in uniform or plain clothes.”