Irish Examiner View: Focus for gardaí needs to be broadened

Fáil justice spokesperson Jim O’Callaghan's concerns about Garda staff recruitment may be valid, but the force also has a very real problem with staff retention

Fianna Fáil justice spokesperson Jim O’Callaghan stated that 55 of 315 Garda recruit candidates failed the Garda fitness test, adding the test is too demanding compared to those in other countries. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

A wide range of challenges face gardaí at present. 

Policing the far right’s efforts to intimidate children is an ongoing issue, while also covering large swathes of rural Ireland where people are living in fear — as detailed in this newspaper yesterday — is a different but no less difficult task.