Gardaí beginning to look top heavy but rather light down at street level

DESPITE the apparent euphoria at the news that the gardaí are to recruit more civilians, it seems to be a case of more chiefs and not enough Indians.

The Morris Tribunal was “staggered by the amount of indiscipline and insubordination it has found in the garda force. There is a small, but disproportionately influential, core of mischief-making members who will not obey orders, who will not follow procedures, who will not tell the truth and who have no respect for their officers”.

In the aftermath of this damning indictment two official reports recommended more civilians to release gardaí for real police work, which is badly needed.