Commissioner's Speech An Garda Síochána Monument of Remembrance

Ministers, invited guests, colleagues, families and friends.

You are all very welcome to Garda Headquarters here today as we unveil the newly refurbished Monument of Remembrance to the more than 1800 Garda personnel who have died whilst in service.

And today is about taking time to remember, to reflect, and to share our memories and stories of all those we have lost.

I want to especially welcome the families, friends and colleagues of those whose names are inscribed on the Monument.

To mark our 100th anniversary last year, we began a refurbishment process on the existing Monument of Remembrance here at Garda Headquarters so we can continue to commemorate and remember those personnel who died in service long into the future.

The result is a calm, dignified space that provides an opportunity to take some time to think of those we have lost and, importantly, keep their memories alive.

Sadly, there is one colleague who has not yet been recorded on this memorial, Garda Staci Daly, who passed away last week. Her name will soon be inscribed here. She, and her family, are in our thoughts and prayers.

Today, we have laid wreaths here in honour of all those who served in An Garda Síochána and, in doing so, served the people of Ireland.

As Commissioner, I want to acknowledge the contribution made by these individuals and remember their service to the State.

Their service involved sacrifice, dedication and professionalism.

Qualities that exemplify An Garda Síochána throughout our 101 year history.

The Monument of Remembrance is a visual reminder of the colleagues we lost too soon.

Among the names inscribed on the Monument are those of our colleagues who made the ultimate sacrifice in the course of their duties.

We also honour the sacrifice and service of these 89 Gardaí today, as we do every day.

This Monument of Remembrance honours all our colleagues who have died during the course of their careers with An Garda Síochána.

Today is a day that offers us time to commemorate those loved ones and all they achieved in life – inside and outside of An Garda Síochána.

Their lives meant so much to so their family, friends and colleagues.

I hope that every day as we pass this Monument that we think of those who are remembered here.

I also hope that it will inspire all Garda personnel to think of our own service and the crucial role we all play to keep people safe.

I want to thank the committee for their work in bringing this project to fruition.

I want to thank Garda Estate Management and the OPW who oversaw the works to the Monument.

This project was completed under the auspice of the Centenary Commemoration Steering Group, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Anne Marie McMahon.

Before we conclude, I invite you to take a moment now to think of our colleagues, our friends and our family members who died during their service in An Garda Síochána.

We can take comfort in knowing that each person we remember here today made a difference in the lives of others.

This Monument ensures that their contribution to policing in Ireland will never be forgotten.

We give thanks to God always for you all making mention of you in our prayers.

May they rest in peace.

I invite you to join me in a moment of reflection.

After the ceremony I extend an invitation to you all to visit the Monument and take some time to think of your loved ones, of colleagues, and friends.

I have no doubt there are a great many memories to share and I look forward to hearing them later on.

Thank you.

Commissioner's Speech at the Garda Passing out 20 September 2024

Minister McEntee, Invited Guests, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon,

You are all very welcome to the Garda College for what is a very special occasion.

Today is an important and exciting day for you, and your families.

It follows many months of hard work, and commitment.

It is a day to be proud and to take stock of all that you have achieved to date.

It is a day to celebrate with families and loved ones as you embark upon this new career path.

Each one of you will have arrived at this point here today having followed very different paths in life.

Some of you will have had previous careers, while others are entering the workforce for the first time.

But no matter what road has brought you to this day, An Garda Síochána is glad that it has led you to what is an exciting and promising career.

I am delighted to welcome so many of your family, friends and loved ones to Templemore today. They have been with you along this journey, guiding and supporting you throughout your training.

I want to thank them for being there for you, and for continuing to support you as you begin your career with us in An Garda Síochána.

Your training here has equipped you for the road ahead, as you prepare to take up duty in stations across the country.

Already you have represented An Garda Síochána proudly and professionally while on placement.

I’d like to note that efforts you made on the ground resonated with victims. And your actions were commended by colleagues you supported to progress investigations.

This speaks to your abilities and shows the difference you can and have made in just a short period of time.

I’m aware too, that Intake 235 have been great supporters of charity work, and were directly involved in fundraisers for sick children and the Irish Wheelchair Association. Much of this, it has to be said, was conducted on your own time.

You have been involved in school visits highlighting the importance of road safety and reinforcing the message that Gardaí are here to help.

Beyond this, you were at the very forefront of policing nationwide.

I am aware of trainees who were personally sought by victims to offer support; who assisted colleagues in responding to tragedies, and who provided comfort to young children following the execution of a court order.

I want to take this opportunity to publicly compliment you all on the great work you have done in communities.

And I am confident that you will bring the same level of enthusiasm, drive and professionalism to your work as you begin work as Gardaí.

You have been the first intake to undergo CBD1 Driving Assessment while in the Garda College as Trainee Gardaí.

This is a welcome development as part of the training here in the Garda College and will stand to you when you go to your stations.

This means upon arrival you will be in a position to perform driving roles.

As you have already experienced, this job can be very rewarding. Remember that each engagement you have with the public is important, and deserving of your full attention and diligence.

How you interact with them is important, because the service they receive will shape future engagement.

Providing that support to individuals in communities is central to the role.

I want to remind you that having support is hugely important too. Your colleagues are there to assist you, guide you, and I encourage you to seek their advice.

As the backbone of the organisation, it is crucial that you are supported in what you do - whether that be in the area of well-being supports, operational equipment, or training.

That is why we continue to make improvements in these areas.

Among the supports you can expect is access to a Peer Support Network; the Garda Employee Assistance Service, the KOPS Wellbeing App, our Mental Health First Aid programme and our independent 24-hour counselling service.

I encourage you to avail of those supports.

Of course having the right supports to do your job is also important. Earlier this month we launched our final phase of a proof of concept for body worn cameras. There are now 600 cameras in use across five stations in Dublin, Limerick and Waterford.

Those of you going to stations in Pearse Street, Store Street, Kevin Street, Henry Street in Limerick, and Waterford will have the opportunity to train and be part of this proof of concept.

These cameras serve not only to enhance our ability to gather evidence but also work to improve the safety of personnel. They have shown to be effective in de-escalating situations that might otherwise have escalated or turned violent. And they have been shown to mitigate the potential for false complaints to be made.

You will have already received our world-leading mobility device and this will greatly assist you and enable you to spend more time on patrol.

Enhanced personal safety equipment has been introduced including the roll-out of stronger incapacitant spray.

I’d like to talk to you about the oath you have all taken here today and how important the oath is not just today, but every day as sworn Gardaí.

You have sworn an oath to serve the people of Ireland.

To keep them safe.

To put them first.

You must do so by acting ethically. Professionally. And with integrity to protect the human rights of everyone you come into contact with.

You have made a commitment to place the human rights of everyone to the forefront of all that you do.

You have promised to faithfully discharge your duties with integrity. Fairness. Diligence. And Impartiality.

Thank you for this commitment and now an exciting career awaits.

Through this job you will gain greater insight into the needs of others.

You will gain a deeper understanding of communities.

You will gain a set of unique skills enabling you to keep people safe.

For the public you will perform an important service,

You will protect the vulnerable.

You will make a difference to people in the darkest of times.

This is why being a Garda is a privilege and an honour.

Before I conclude I want to thank the training staff here at the Garda College who have taken you through your training over the last 34 weeks and I especially want to remember Garda Damian Sharkey who sadly passed away earlier this summer, Damian taught many of you passing out here today and I’m very pleased that Damien’s wife Joan and three daughters Abbey, Polly and Mia are able to join us for today’s ceremony. I want to thank them for being here in such difficult circumstances.

May Damian Rest in Peace.

Finally, as you depart from the Garda College today I want to thank you for choosing a career in An Garda Síochána.

I now formally congratulate you on becoming members of An Garda Síochána.

Thank You.

Commissioner's Speech at the Santa Marta Leadership Summit 26-27 June 2024

Cardinal Nichols, Minister for Justice, Chief Constable Boutcher, Director Harris, Colleagues, Good Morning.

You are all very welcome to the Banking Hall here in the University College Cork Centre for Executive Education, for this the 2024 Senior Leadership Summit on Collectively Combating Human Trafficking.

An Garda Síochána is delighted to host this conference in conjunction with the Santa Marta Group. It follows a successful conference hosted by Police Scotland last year, and this week’s event aims to build on our collaboration and partnership going forward.

I’d like to begin by firstly acknowledging the great number of police services represented here today, together with representatives from across the Catholic Church.

I want to welcome our Justice and charitable partners, both here in Ireland and internationally - all of whom, are working to prevent human trafficking and provide tailored support to victims of this egregious crime.

I’d like to thank the Santa Marta Group for their support and collaboration on this initiative. This conference provides a valuable opportunity for those of us with senior leadership roles in this area to discuss key issues and learnings that we have encountered in our respective fields.

Over the course of the next two days our aim in hosting this event is to provide the time and space for all our delegates to meet with one another and share our varied experiences.

By imparting this knowledge and insight we can all gain a better understanding of how this heinous crime takes place; how to better identify victims and potential targets; and ultimately this will enable us to bring perpetrators of human trafficking to justice.

In order to do this effectively we must acknowledge the presence and prevalence of human trafficking locally and internationally.

We must acknowledge that the victims are without a voice. Marginalised by the crime committed against them they are unseen and unheard. By gathering under the auspices of Santa Marta we seek to give them a voice, we seek to bring them into the light.

Human trafficking is here. It is in Ireland, and Irish people can be targeted.

This despicable crime involves the use of deception, threats or physical force to move a victim from one place to another in order to exploit them. Or in the case of a child - the act of transporting a child into exploitative conditions.

What sets it apart from immigration-related offences such as people smuggling is the element of exploitation.

This can include Sexual Exploitation - the prostitution of the victim or the production of pornography which depicts the victim; Labour Exploitation - forcing the victim to perform manual labour or carry out domestic services with no rights and little to no remuneration; Forced Criminality - such as grow houses or the sale of illegal drugs; and Forced begging- which sees the creation of begging rings, daily quotas, victims intentionally disfigured.

Other forms of exploitation also include Organ removal–performed without the free, informed and specific consent of the donor.

Human trafficking by its nature, is a crime that is Hidden in Plain Sight, and to identify victims, and crucially those perpetrators exploiting them, we must look to what is being done and how it is being done.

Human trafficking is unfortunately seen as a business by the criminals that carry it out. Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) and criminals use it as a means to make money.

OCGs combine illicit practices with strong, often legitimate business and technical skills. This results in highly profitable, low risk businesses that are resilient to law enforcement actions. They can be easy to set up, relocate, and difficult for law enforcement to prosecute.

This crime is often based on family and ethnic ties, particularly in the area of sexual exploitation, and victims are most often re-victimised for various other exploitative ventures. As the business grows for the OCG they expand the scope of their activities internationally and ultimately work to finance criminality.

The victims of human trafficking span all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds and demographics. Those most at risk include: those who are vulnerable; emotionally isolated from family and friends; runaway and homeless youths; victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, war or conflict; as well as victims of economic deprivation or social discrimination.

We know that social media acts as a key tool for traffickers in identifying potential victims, and is used through the use of fake accounts to befriend and groom targets and gain their trust.

Significant effort goes into this practice and a trafficker will study what a potential victim posts on social media. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for individuals to identify a sinister approach in this setting.

For many victims the simple offer of a better life is enough to give rise to engagement with these predators, enabling them to groom them and enlist them in their enterprises.

When children are exploited, they enter this world through means of domestic abuse and neglect; harmful traditions such as early or forced marriage; are sold by families in deprivation; or enlisted for domestic servitude.

Later today you will hear from a victim of sexual exploitation, who will speak with Barbara Condon of Ruhmama and discuss her experience. I want to especially acknowledge her bravery and thank her for sharing her harrowing experience, which furthers our knowledge at how to protect and support victims of human trafficking.

We will also hear from PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Gail McCormick who will deliver a panel discussion on sexual exploitation.

Tomorrow we will turn the focus to Labour Exploitation and forced criminality with further panel discussions.

The Irish Experience

For An Garda Síochána here in Ireland our experience is that we are a destination country – not a source country – in respect of human trafficking.

We have found that all detections here have stemmed from foreign nationals exploiting those from their own country in Ireland. That is not to say that Irish people cannot be victims. This is a crime that uses people as commodities and as such anyone can be a victim.

In Ireland it is a crime we take very seriously. In 2015 The Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) was established and our Human Trafficking Investigation & Co-ordination Unit (HTICU) operates within the bureau. This is a specialist unit dedicated to investigating allegations and supporting victims of human trafficking.

The unit provides advice, support and operational assistance to human trafficking investigations nationwide. This unit is responsible for proactively pursuing a strategy that targets Organised Crime Groups (OCG’s) engaged in human trafficking.

Furthermore, our Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit (OPIU) investigate and co-ordinate cases relating specifically to the Sexual Exploitation of Trafficked Victims. This unit also works to identify escorts under 18 years old; and victims of coercive control.

Of course these activities often cross borders, and involve an international element and so the units work to liaise with our European and International Law Enforcement Agencies to progress investigations.

In 2023 there were 53 individuals identified as victims of human trafficking in Ireland. This represents an increase of 26% on the previous year. Of those 71% were women.

The dominant means of exploitation of those victims in Ireland was for sexual exploitation with 28 or 67% involved in this forced activity; a further 8 or 19% were exploited for labour; and the remaining 14% were involved in forced criminality.

While this is a notable increase on those victims identified in 2022, the increase can be attributed to a combination of factors, including an increase in reporting; our actions to create awareness of the potential for vulnerable individuals – including migrants – to be trafficked; and also the increased exploitation of people by the criminal fraternity.

Prosecutions

In Ireland to date, we have had one successful prosecution for human trafficking. In 2021, two women were convicted for the sexual exploitation of four female victims. Both women initially received custodial sentences of five to five and a half years. However, these sentences were appealed by the Director of Public Prosecutions on the grounds of leniency. Last year, both women had their sentences increased on appeal to seven and a half years.

Furthermore, we have two additional human trafficking cases before the courts in respect of separate incidents of labour exploitation.

As the Minister for Justice has already referenced, legislation is currently making its way through the Oireachtas [The Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023].

This will provide for a new National Referral Mechanism (NRM) framework for the identification of victims of human trafficking.

This National Referral Mechanism will provide a more streamlined response, and will provide for the identification of victims who have been hidden in plain sight and ensure they are provided with the support they need.

For us, in An Garda Síochána, this piece of legislation will significantly benefit victims by providing better access to supports and routes to report this crime.

Before I conclude,

It is important to say that this work cannot be done in a vacuum. human trafficking permeates through various strands of criminal activity; it is transnational and as outlined is hidden in plain sight.

That is why events like this are essential. It affords us the opportunity to connect, to identify common trends, and new pathways traffickers are utilising to prey on the vulnerable.

As I mentioned earlier, to traffickers and organised crime groups, this is a business venture. A lucrative one.

And like any business, it is a co-ordinated enterprise. It has key leadership figures. It has branches and subsidiaries that educate one another on means and opportunities. These networks operate cohesively together across various parts of the world like many other businesses.

But unlike any legitimate business, this is a business that causes untold misery, immense hardship, and takes people’s liberty from them.

To combat this awful enterprise, we too must organise and collaborate.

We must strengthen our bonds.

We must learn from our experiences and learn from each other

We must do this because it takes a network to defeat a network.

I am a strong believer in working together to defeat those who choose to flout and evade the law by using borders to their advantage.

In raising awareness, sharing our knowledge and experience as we are doing here this week, I know we can deliver results.

To conclude,

This conference would not have come about if it weren’t for our partners The Santa Marta Group. And I want to take this opportunity to thank them for their contribution and support in organising this week’s event.

I have no doubt that throughout today and tomorrow we will all gain better insight into human trafficking; establish connections; and get to explore innovative ways of bringing those involved in this crime to justice.

Thank you and I look forward to meeting with you all throughout the conference.

Commissioner's Speech at the Garda Passing out 28 June 2024

Minister McEntee, Minister Browne, Invited Guests, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning,

You are all very welcome to the Garda College for this very special occasion.

Today is an important day for intake 23

It is a proud day for you, your families and loved ones.

Today is the first day of your career as a Garda, and the beginning of many firsts.

It paves the way for your first official tour of duty.

Your first investigation.

Your first arrest.

Your first day in court.

Each of you has arrived here by different paths, and will have made the choice to be a Garda for diverse reasons.

But in applying to become a Garda you took the first steps towards a rewarding and varied career. And now as you prepare to embark on the road ahead, it is important to remember the journey to where you are today.

It has taken work and dedication.

It has taken a drive to succeed, and a desire to be of service.

You have been guided and supported by your instructors here in the college but equally by those to whom you now stand shoulder to shoulder with.

You have forged bonds. Made friends. Gained a better insight into becoming a Garda.

It is a proud day and a day to celebrate.

But in doing so, I want to thank your families and loved ones who have supported you in your choice. And who crucially will be there to support you in the future.

I also want to thank Intake 234 for the work they have done while in training. Many of you have been involved in community based policing during this programme.

I know your work at St Patricks Day Parades nationally, and at the 'Colm Horkan Memorial Pitch and Community Walkways' opening was greatly appreciated.

You were equally very involved in schools programme activities and in supporting schemes like Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert, together with events like the Garda Youth Awards. Many of you did so on your own time.

As well as these positive engagements, many of you have also dealt with criminal investigations and traumatic incidents.

I am confident that you will bring the same level of enthusiasm, drive and professionalism as you prepare to depart for your new stations.

We spoke earlier about the dedication and the responsibilities that comes with being a Garda, and I would like to reiterate that again here.

As Gardaí you have a responsibility to serve the people of Ireland.

To keep them safe.

To act ethically and professionally.

With integrity to protect the human rights of everyone you come into contact with.

As Gardaí it is your duty to maintain the highest standards. It is what the public expect and deserve, and what I expect to.

Being a Garda is a privilege and an honour.

It is also rewarding. You will work in partnership with communities to make their lives better.

You will protect the vulnerable.

You will build and foster relationships with the communities you serve.

You will make a difference in people’s lives.

And above all else you will keep people safe.

As an organisation we are here to support you and your Garda colleagues in fulfilling those duties.

And to that end, I was glad to see the introduction of the proof of concept phase of body worn cameras in Pearse Street, Store Street and Kevin Street in the DMR last month. With further stations in Limerick and Waterford to come on stream later this summer. This is an important milestone for An Garda Síochána towards the implementation of Information-Led Policing.

Those of you stationed in these stations will be able to avail of training and participate in this process in the coming weeks.

This is just one a range of measures that have been introduced to provide Gardaí with the supports they need to do their jobs effectively, efficiently and safely.

This has included the roll-out of stronger incapacitant spray. And our public order units have been provided with tasers, and additional protective equipment.

An Garda Síochána also continues to invest in technology to support and protect front-line Gardaí. You will have already received our world-leading mobility device and this will greatly assist you and enable you to spend more time on patrol.

I want to remind you that both having and giving support is hugely important. Because this work is not without its difficulties.

Indeed, some of you will have faced some challenging incidents already whilst on your placements. There will be days where you will face into traumatic and tragic situations and have to put your feelings aside to assist those in need. But this does not mean that you put those feelings on hold indefinitely.

There are supports available to you within An Garda Síochána to guide you and assist you.

You may be unsure if you need support, but don’t let that stop you from taking the first step and asking for help.

Among the supports you can expect is access to a Peer Support Network; the Garda Employee Assistance Service, the KOPS Wellbeing App, and our independent 24-hour counselling service.

I also want to thank your instructing staff here at the College for all their hard work and commitment to bringing you to the point of attestation and passing out.

And Finally,

Before you depart from the Garda College today I want to highlight that you have chosen a great career. One that brings with it a lot of responsibility, but also a lot in the way of job satisfaction.

No two days will be the same.

It’s a job that will test you.

It’s a job that it rewarding.

But ultimately It’s a job worth doing.

So thank you for choosing a career in An Garda Síochána.

I hope the weeks and months ahead brings plenty of great first experiences and that your career with us in An Garda Síochána is a long and fulfilling one.

I congratulate you all on becoming members of An Garda Síochána.

Thank you.

Commissioner's Speech at the Walter Scott Medal Awards 9 September

This year is significant as it marks 100 years since the first Scott Medal was awarded by Colonel Walter Scott to Garda James Mulroy for his bravery having been held up by two armed men on his way home from duty in Broadford Co. Clare in 1923.

The Scott Medal is awarded to Gardaí who, as Colonel Walter Scott put it himself, “have distinguished themselves for valour in the performance of their duties.”

At the time, An Garda Síochána was the youngest police service in the world and operating largely unarmed in bitterly and sometimes violently divided communities. Colonel Scott recognised that inevitably there would be times when our unarmed police officers would be under threat. But he knew too, that those dedicated Gardaí would rise to the occasion. Often putting themselves in harm’s way to do what was right and just.

For more than 100 years now we have seen the truth of this, and today we continue to recognise those Gardaí who have faced danger head on, at huge risk to themselves in pursuit of justice, and an innate drive to keeping people safe. Our member’s dedication to keeping people safe and protecting the community remains as steadfast as it was in August 1924, when the first Gold Scott Medal was awarded. The work of all Gardaí is inherently dangerous, complex and can often stretch far beyond our day-to-day duty, but the selfless courage of some stands out.

Today we will gather to award eight Scott Medals – two gold, one silver, and five bronze - to eight members of An Garda Síochána who have distinguished themselves for valour in the performance of their duties. The bravery shown by these Gardaí whose unwavering commitment to protect and serve the people of Ireland has seen them go above and beyond the call of duty. These courageous individuals have risked life and limb, working in dangerous and fraught situations at their peril, to uphold the law. They have done so selflessly and with distinction.

The Scott Medal is the highest decoration that can be bestowed upon a member of An Garda Síochána for their exceptional courage and bravery.

On this occasion, we especially remember our colleagues being awarded Gold Scott Medals posthumously today - Detective Sergeant Denis O’Brien and Superintendent John Curtin. These Gardaí performed their duties with extraordinary commitment to the communities they served. Above all, they set aside all fear and consciously put the safety of others before their own in a moment of danger or threat. Today, we pay tribute to their dedication to duty.

I wish to welcome the families of our Scott Medal recipients. You share a special part in the awards bestowed today. You have been a huge support to our colleagues, knowing the perils of the job they undertake. Today, we pay tribute to their dedication to duty and be inspired by their selfless actions.

I wish to express my gratitude to each one for their exemplary service to the people of Ireland.

Le meas agus buíochas,

J.A. Harris

Commissioner, An Garda Síochána

Réamhfhocal an Choimisinéara

Tá tábhacht nach beag i mbliana mar go bhfuil sé 100 bliain ó bhronn an Cornal Walter Scott an chéad Bhonn Scott ar an nGarda James Mulroy as a chuid crógachta tar éis do bheirt fhear armtha é a robáil agus é ar a bhealach abhaile ó dhualgas in Áth Leathan, Co. an Chláir i 1923.

Bronntar Bonn Scott ar Ghardaí, mar a dúirt an Cornal Walter Scott é féin, “a rinne idirdhealú idir iad féin agus iad i mbun a gcuid dualgas.”

Ag an am, ba é an Garda Síochána an tseirbhís phóilíneachta is óige ar domhan agus bhí sé ag feidhmiú den chuid is mó neamharmtha i bpobail a bhí foréigneach agus searbh in amanna. D’aithin an Coirnéal Scott go mbeadh amanna ann gan dabht nuair a bheadh ár bpóilíní neamharmtha i mbaol. Ach bhí a fhios aige freisin go n-ardódh na Gardaí tiomanta sin go dtí an ócáid. Is minic a chuireann siad iad féin i mbealach an dochair chun an rud ceart agus cóir a dhéanamh.

Le breis agus 100 bliain anois tá fírinne an scéil feicthe againn, agus inniu táimid fós ag aithint na nGardaí sin a raibh contúirt ag bagairt orthu, iad féin i mbaol mór agus iad ar thóir an chirt, agus feachtas dúchasach chun daoine a choinneáil slán. Tá tiomantas ár mball chun daoine a choinneáil slán agus an pobal a chosaint chomh diongbháilte agus a bhí sé i mí Lúnasa 1924, nuair a bronnadh an chéad Bhonn Óir Scott. Tá obair na nGardaí go léir contúirteach, casta go bunúsach agus is minic a shíneann sí i bhfad níos faide ná ár ndualgas laethúil, ach seasann misneach neamhleithscéalach cuid acu amach.

Tiocfaidh muid le chéile inniu chun ocht mBonn Scott – dhá bhonn óir, airgead amháin, agus cúig bhonn cré-umha – a bhronnadh ar ochtar ball den Gharda Síochána a bhfuil clú agus cáil bainte amach acu as a gcuid dualgas. An crógacht a léirigh na Gardaí seo a bhfuil a dtiomantas diongbháilte chun muintir na hÉireann a chosaint agus freastal orthu, tá siad ag dul os cionn agus níos faide ná an glaoch dualgais. Chuir na daoine cróga seo beatha agus géag i mbaol, agus iad ag obair i gcásanna contúirteacha agus gránna ar a gconlán féin, chun seasamh leis an dlí. Tá seo déanta acu go neamhleithscéalach agus le gradam.

Is é Bonn Scott an maisiúchán is airde is féidir a bhronnadh ar bhall den Gharda Síochána as a gcrógacht eisceachtúil.

Ar an ócáid seo, cuimhnímid go háirithe ar ár gcomhghleacaithe ar bronnadh Boinn Óir Scott orthu tar éis a bháis inniu - an Bleachtaire Sáirsint Denis O’Brien agus an Ceannfort John Curtin. Chomhlíon na Gardaí seo a gcuid dualgas le tiomantas neamhghnách do na pobail ar fhreastail siad orthu. Thar aon rud eile, chuir siad gach eagla i leataobh agus chuir siad sábháilteacht daoine eile os a gcomhair féin i nóiméad contúirte nó bagartha. Inniu, gabhaimid buíochas as a ndúthracht i leith dualgais.

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh theaghlaigh ár bhfaighteoirí Bonn Scott. Tá páirt ar leith agaibh sna gradaim a bhronntar inniu. Thug sibh an-tacaíocht dár gcomhghleacaithe, agus fios maith agat ar na guaiseanna a bhaineann leis an bpost a dhéanann siad. Sa lá atá inniu ann, tugaimid ómós dá ndúthracht i leith dualgais agus a bheith spreagtha ag a ngníomhartha neamhleithscéalacha.

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl do gach duine as a seirbhís eiseamláireach do mhuintir na hÉireann.

Le meas agus buíochas,

J.A. Harris

Coimisinéir, An Garda Síochána

An Garda Síochána

Ag Coinneáil Daoine Sábháilte - Keeping People Safe

Ceremonial Order

10:15 am Medal Recipients, families and invited guests will arrive at Walter Scott House, Military Road, Dublin 8.

10:30 am Medal Recipients, families and invited guests will be requested to take their seats.

10:55 am The Commissioner will meet Ms. Helen McEntee, T.D., Minister for Justice at the entrance to Walter Scott House.

The Minister will inspect the Ceremonial Guard of Honour.

The Commissioner and The Minister will enter Walter Scott House.

The Minister will be invited to sign the visitor’s book.

The Commissioner and The Minister will take their seats on the Podium.

11:00 am Superintendent Michael Fleming will invite Father Joe Kennedy and Archdeacon David Pierpoint to say the opening prayers.

11:05 am Superintendent Fleming will invite Deputy Commissioner Shawna Coxon, Strategy, Governance and Performance to make an opening address.

11:15 am Superintendent Fleming will invite Chief Superintendent Raymond McMahon, Mayo/ Roscommon/Longford Division to the Podium.

Chief Superintendent McMahon will read the Citation for Sergeant Kieran Flynn and

invite Sergeant Flynn to the Podium to receive his Bronze Scott Medal.

Chief Superintendent McMahon will read the Citation for Inspector Joseph Finnegan and invite Inspector Finnegan to the Podium to receive his Bronze Scott Medal.

Superintendent Fleming will invite Chief Superintendent Michael McNulty, DMR West Division to the Podium.

Chief Superintendent McNulty will read the Citation for Detective Garda Warren Farrell and invite Detective Garda Farrell to the Podium to receive his Bronze Scott Medal.

Chief Superintendent McNulty will read the Citation for Sergeant Niamh Connaughton and will invite Sergeant Connaughton to the Podium to receive her Bronze Scott Medal.

An Garda Síochána

Ag Coinneáil Daoine Sábháilte - Keeping People Safe

Ceremonial Order

Superintendent Fleming will invite Chief Superintendent Thomas Myers, Cork City Division to the Podium.

Chief Superintendent Myers will read the Citation for the late Detective Garda Morgan Lahiffe and invite Jean Lahiffe, wife of the late Detective Garda Lahiffe to the Podium

to receive a Bronze Scott Medal which is being awarded posthumously.

Chief Superintendent Myers will read the Citation for Garda Timothy McSweeney and invite Garda McSweeney to the Podium to receive his Silver Scott Medal.

Superintendent Fleming will invite Chief Superintendent Peter Burke, DMR South Division to the Podium.

Chief Superintendent Burke will read the Citation for the late Detective Sergeant Denis O’Brien and invite Meabh McKeown, granddaughter of the late Detective Sergeant O’Brien to the Podium to receive a Gold Scott Medal which is being awarded posthumously.

Superintendent Fleming will invite Chief Superintendent Aileen Magner, Clare/ Tipperary Division to the Podium.

Chief Superintendent Magner will read the Citation for the late Superintendent John Curtin and invite Michael Curtin nephew, of the late Superintendent John Curtin to the Podium to receive a Gold Scott Medal which is being awarded posthumously.

12:10 pm Superintendent Fleming will invite the Commissioner to address the Medal Recipients, their families and invited guests.

12:20 pm Superintendent Fleming will invite the Minister for Justice, to address the Medal Recipients, their families and invited guests.

12:30 pm Superintendent Fleming will call on Deputy Commissioner, Strategy, Governance and Performance to close the ceremony and invite Inspector Pat Kenny of the Garda Band to play Amhrán na bhFiann.

Refreshments will be provided in Walter Scott House for Medal recipients, their families and invited guests.

An Garda Síochána

Ag Coinneáil Daoine Sábháilte - Keeping People Safe

Award of Bronze Scott Medal Sergeant Kieran Flynn, 25594G

On the 25th October 1997, near Lady’s Bay, Belderrig, Mayo, a group of people became trapped within a sea cave. The services of the Garda Underwater Unit were sought to assist with the rescue. Rescue conditions were extremely dangerous due to the weather conditions, sea current conditions, wave surges through the length of the sea cave and the fact that it was night-time. An initial rescue conducted by the Garda Underwater Unit which included Garda Kieran Flynn and Garda Joseph Finnegan had successfully rescued three survivors from the sea cave.

Following the rescue of the survivors, a daylight operation was launched to recover the bodies of two men who had not survived. Conditions inside the cave had deteriorated with 15 and 20 foot waves crashing into the cave. In full knowledge of the dangerous conditions, Garda Flynn and Garda Finnegan entered the water with a tow rope and large floating fenders. Garda Flynn and Garda Finnegan proceeding with great difficulty, succeeded in reaching the back of the cave at which point they were both washed up on the rocks by the heavy waves.

On the rocks at the back of the cave, Garda Flynn and Garda Finnegan located the bodies of the two deceased men. Garda Flynn and Garda Finnegan secured the bodies of the two men to the tow rope and buoyed them using floating fenders. The two Gardaí guiding the bodies were carried out through the breaking surf to the water’s edge on a pre-arranged torch signal to the boat.

This was a difficult and dangerous operation, which took almost one and a half hours and called for seamanship, co-ordination and bravery of the highest order from those involved in treacherous conditions.

For exceptional courage and bravery involving personal risk to life in the execution of his duty, the Bronze Scott Medal is awarded to Sergeant Kieran Flynn.

Award of Bronze Scott Medal Inspector Joseph Finnegan, 24713H

On the 25th October 1997, near Lady’s Bay, Belderrig, Mayo, a group of people became trapped within a sea cave. The services of the Garda Underwater Unit were sought to assist with the rescue. Rescue conditions were extremely dangerous due to the weather conditions, sea current conditions, wave surges through the length of the sea cave and the fact that it was night-time. An initial rescue conducted by the Garda Underwater Unit which included Garda Joseph Finnegan and Garda Kieran Flynn had successfully rescued three survivors from the sea cave.

Following the rescue of the survivors, a daylight operation was launched to recover the bodies of two men who had not survived. Conditions inside the cave had deteriorated with 15 and 20 foot waves crashing into the cave. In full knowledge of the dangerous conditions, Garda Finnegan and Garda Flynn entered the water with a tow rope and large floating fenders. Garda Finnegan and Flynn proceeding with great difficulty, succeeded in reaching the back of the cave at which point they were both washed up on the rocks by the heavy waves.

On the rocks at the back of the cave, Garda Finnegan and Garda Flynn located the bodies of the two deceased men. Garda Finnegan and Garda Flynn secured the bodies of the two men to the tow rope and buoyed them using floating fenders. The two Gardaí guiding the bodies were carried out through the breaking surf to the water’s edge on a pre-arranged torch signal to the boat.

For exceptional courage and bravery involving personal risk to life in the execution of his duty, the Bronze Scott Medal is awarded to Inspector Joseph Finnegan.

Award of Bronze Scott Medal Detective Garda Warren Farrell, 33642D

On the 27th March 2013, Garda Warren Farrell and Garda Niamh Connaughton, were on patrol in a marked patrol van. They were driving down the Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, when Garda Connaughton saw a white Ford Transit van pull up ahead of them outside the Carry Out Off Licence. Gardaí Farrell and Connaughton then observed two males alight from this vehicle and run into the Carry Out Off Licence, they had their hoods up and their faces concealed. Garda Farrell brought the patrol van to a stop outside the off licence; to see inside the shop, both Gardaí could see that a robbery was taking place inside.

One male was observed by Gardaí on top of the counter trying to prise the till open with a screwdriver while the other male appeared to be threatening a female staff member at gunpoint. Garda Farrell entered the off licence followed by Garda Connaughton in the full knowledge that both of the males were armed. Garda Farrell identified himself and shouted “Gardaí, get down on the ground”.

The male armed with a handgun jumped back over the counter and ran down an aisle on the shop floor, followed by his accomplice. Both Gardaí remained at the entrance to the shop to prevent both males from leaving. Garda Farrell continued to shout “put the gun down and get on the ground”. The male with the handgun stood up from behind a pallet of beer and pointed his handgun at both Gardaí. The situation was volatile and both Gardaí feared for their safety and that of the public, both inside and outside the premises.

Both males ran towards the Gardaí in their attempt to escape and a struggle ensued. Garda Farrell attempted to apprehend the male armed with the screwdriver while Garda Connaughton deployed her incapacitant spray towards the male with the handgun. Garda Connaughton was violently assaulted during the struggle. Garda Farrell went to his colleague’s assistance to restrain the male with the handgun. Both Gardaí eventually subdued the male, disarmed him and made an arrest. The male with the screwdriver who had managed to escape was later arrested.

For exceptional courage and bravery involving personal risk to life in the execution of his duty, the Bronze Scott Medal is awarded to Detective Garda Warren Farrell.

Award of Bronze Scott Medal Sergeant Niamh Connaughton, 35291H

On the 27th March 2013, Garda Niamh Connaughton and Garda Warren Farrell, were on patrol in a marked patrol van. They were driving down the Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, when Garda Connaughton saw a white Ford Transit van pull up ahead of them outside the Carry Out Off Licence. Gardaí Connaughton and Farrell then observed two males alight from this vehicle and run into the Carry Out Off Licence, they had their hoods up and their faces concealed. Garda Farrell brought the patrol van to a stop outside the off licence; to see inside the shop, both Gardaí could see that a robbery was taking place inside.

One male was observed by Gardaí on top of the counter trying to prise the till open with a screwdriver while the other male appeared to be threatening a female staff member at gunpoint. Garda Connaughton and Garda Farrell entered the off licence and observed one male jump over the counter while the other male was behind the counter beside a female staff member.

The male armed with a handgun jumped back over the counter and ran down an aisle on the shop floor, followed by his accomplice. Both Gardaí remained at the entrance to the shop to prevent both males from leaving. The male with the handgun stood up from behind a pallet of beer and pointed his handgun at both Gardaí. The situation was volatile and both Gardaí feared for their safety and that of the public, both inside and outside the premises.

Both males ran towards the Gardaí in their attempt to escape and a struggle ensued. Garda Connaughton deployed her incapacitant spray towards the male with the handgun, who grabbed hold of a customer and used him as a shield. Garda Connaughton was violently assaulted when attempting to apprehend this male. Garda Farrell went to his colleague’s assistance to restrain the male with the handgun. Both Gardaí eventually subdued the male, disarmed him and made an arrest. The male with the screwdriver who had managed to escape was later arrested.

For exceptional courage and bravery involving personal risk to life in the execution of her duty, the Bronze Scott Medal is awarded to Sergeant Niamh Connaughton.

Award of Bronze Scott Medal Detective Garda Morgan Lahiffe, 14647A

On the 20th August 1971, Garda Morgan Lahiffe was on duty at Togher Garda Station when he received a phone call from Union Quay Communications Room stating that three armed raiders entered the Five Star Supermarket, Togher.

Garda Lahiffe accompanied by Garda Gerry O’Sullivan responded to the call. On arrival at the scene, Garda Lahiffe and Garda O’Sullivan made their way inside the Supermarket.

Garda Lahiffe observed a masked man at the far end of the shop as he began to make his way towards the back of the shop; the masked raider ran towards Garda Lahiffe and Garda O’Sullivan pointing his gun at them and ordered the Gardaí to get out of the shop.

Garda Lahiffe and Garda O’Sullivan refused to leave the shop, then a second armed raider came from an office to the left of the Gardaí and ordered the Gardaí to leave the shop. Garda Lahiffe and Garda O’Sullivan were forced to retreat.

As the armed raiders left the premises to make good their escape, both Gardaí were again threatened at gunpoint. The armed raiders got into a car and drove onto Clashduv Road and were pursued by Garda Lahiffe and Garda O’Sullivan.

Garda O’Sullivan got out of the car at a phone box to alert Headquarters and request assistance. Garda Lahiffe followed the armed raiders to the College Road area where he was joined by other Garda members, in a marked patrol car. Garda Lahiffe provided details to these members who took up the search for the armed raiders.

One of the armed raiders attempted to escape on foot and the Garda members gave chase. Subsequently the armed raiders were apprehended.

For exceptional courage and bravery involving personal risk to life in the execution of his duty, the Bronze Scott Medal is awarded posthumously to Detective Garda Morgan Lahiffe RIP.

Award of Silver Scott Medal Garda Timothy McSweeney, 26324K

On the 24th March 2022, a call was received by Gardaí to attend at a house in Douglas Co. Cork, where there was a domestic incident taking place and the injured party was in fear for her safety and that of her children.

Garda Timothy McSweeney, who was on patrol in the area, responded to the call.

Garda McSweeney entered the house and spoke with a male who was intoxicated and in an agitated state and was demanding to see his children. Garda McSweeney was talking to the male trying to resolve the situation in a calm manner, when the male made his way to the kitchen and grabbed a large knife from a kitchen drawer. The male held up the knife in a threatening manner towards Garda McSweeney.

In order to protect himself and the occupants of the house Garda McSweeney instinctively grabbed his wrist with the intention of disarming him. A violent struggle ensued where Garda McSweeney suffered a number of knife wounds to his arms and an injury to his knee and back when he was dragged to the floor. The male continued to resist and made threats to kill Garda McSweeney.

Garda McSweeney continued to struggle with the male for some time until he managed to get the male onto the ground, drew his baton and restrained him. Garda McSweeney managed to take possession of the knife and subsequently called for assistance.

Responding to a domestic violence incident, the actions of Garda McSweeney prevented the risk of harm / loss of life to others in the household.

For exceptional courage and bravery involving personal risk to life in the execution of his duty, the Silver Scott Medal is awarded to Garda Timothy McSweeney.

Award of Gold Scott Medal Detective Sergeant Denis O’Brien,

8288

On the 9th September 1942, Detective Sergeant Denis O’Brien left his family home at Rathfarnham and got into his motor car. Unknown to him, three IRA men in trench coats and armed with Thompson sub-machine guns lay in wait and as he drove down his driveway, two gunmen fired on him. He abandoned his transport and moved towards the gate of his home.

Despite being confronted by gunmen who had the advantage of cover, planning, superior firepower and superior numbers Detective Sergeant O’Brien drew his firearm and discharged a number of shots.

Another gunman was lying in wait for the eventuality that Detective Sergeant O’Brien would escape the fire from his accomplices and arrive at the gateway. Detective Sergeant O’Brien was fatally wounded by a shot to the head.

The gunmen mounted their bicycles and fled the scene. A further gunman left on foot and was subsequently arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to death by hanging.

For exceptional courage and bravery, which led to the loss of his life in the execution of his duty as a member of An Garda Síochána, the Gold Scott Medal is awarded posthumously to Detective Sergeant Denis O’Brien RIP.

An Garda Síochána

Ag Coinneáil Daoine Sábháilte - Keeping People Safe

Award of Gold Scott Medal Superintendent John Curtin,

783

On the 21st March 1931, Superintendent John Curtin was on duty and was conducting a late night inspection of Golden Garda Station, Co. Tipperary. There was criminal paramilitary activity in the area throughout this period of time and despite being threatened by way of letter in November 1930, Superintendent Curtin carried out his duty diligently at a time of great uncertainty. In the days prior to his death Superintendent Curtin brought a number of suspects before the Circuit Court in Clonmel in relation to paramilitary activity.

On the night in question, Superintendent Curtin returned to his house late and the gates to his house had been closed which was unusual. Superintendent Curtin exited his Morris Cowley car leaving his lights on in order to open the gates. As he returned to his car, armed gunmen who had hidden behind a wall at the entrance to Superintendent Curtin’s house revealed themselves. The armed gunmen opened fire on Superintendent Curtin and shot him a number of times ultimately fatally wounding him. Superintendent Curtin was unarmed at the time.

Superintendent Curtin lay on the ground for some time before being discovered by his sister-in-law, who went to investigate the car lights. With the help of neighbours, Superintendent Curtin was brought into his house by his sister-in-law and his heavily pregnant wife. He died that same night without regaining consciousness.

For exceptional courage and bravery, which led to the loss of his life in the execution of his duty as a member of An Garda Síochána, the Gold Scott Medal is awarded posthumously to Superintendent John Curtin RIP.

Scott Medal Recipients

Award of Bronze Scott Medal Sergeant Kieran Flynn, 25594G

Award of Bronze Scott Medal Inspector Joseph Finnegan, 24713H

Award of Bronze Scott Medal Detective Garda Warren Farrell, 33642D

Award of Bronze Scott Medal Sergeant Niamh Connaughton, 35291H

Award of Bronze Scott Medal Detective Garda Morgan Lahiffe, 14647A (Posthumously)

Award of Silver Scott Medal Garda Timothy McSweeney, 26324K

Award of Gold Scott Medal Detective Sergeant Denis O’Brien, 8288 (Posthumously)

Award of Gold Scott Medal Superintendent John Curtin, 783 (Posthumously)

Colonel Walter Scott

The donor of the Medal for Valour in the Garda Síochána, a noted philanthropist, friend of the international police community, leader in the Order of Scottish Clans in the United States and Canada, was born in Montreal in 1861, of Scots-Canadian parents, Walter and Mary (Sharp) Scott.

In 1864, the family moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where young Walter found a job in the grocery business, probably as a messenger boy, at $2 a week. By the age of ten, he was manager of a small fruit store near Harvard University. At fifteen, the precocious young businessman joined Butler Brothers, a firm of general wholesalers. In 1889 he was appointed manager in New York. He retired in 1932 after 55 years’ service with the same employers.

In his letter to General Eoin O’Duffy confirming the offer to endow a Medal for Valour for the new Irish police force, he wrote: “It has always been a practice of mine to present flowers during life, when one can enjoy their beauty and fragrance”.

He sponsored scholarships at Smith College, the Stevens Institute of Technology and the American International College; he was a founder of the New York Broad Street Hospital, President of the Walter Scott Free Industrial School for Crippled Children and, among his many other charities, he endowed numerous hospital beds.

A lifelong interest in police work was prompted, perhaps, by his contacts with the service in the course of his charitable work. He endowed medals for bravery by policemen in New York, Boston, Worchester, Holyoke, Detroit, in Argentina and, of course, in Ireland. The New York City Police made him one of their own by appointing him an honorary Commissioner.

Walter Scott died in 1935 at the age of 74, laden with honours at home and abroad. He was a knight of the French Legion of Honour, a member of the Belgian Order of Leopold and held the Silver Grand Cross of Austria. He was, also decorated by the British Government.

History of the Scott Medal

In 1923, Colonel Walter Scott, an Honorary Commissioner of the New York City Police and a well-known philanthropist, presented An Garda Síochána, then the world’s youngest Police Force, with a $1,000 gold bond, the interest of which was to pay for an 18-carat gold medal to be presented Garda members who had performed the most heroic act of bravery in any one year.

There was only one condition attached to the award of the Scott Medal: “No action, however heroic, will merit the award of the Scott medal unless it takes the shape of an act of personal bravery, performed intelligently in the execution of duty at imminent risk to the life of the doer, and armed with full previous knowledge of the risk involved”.

The Scott Medal Award is the highest award for bravery that An Garda Síochána can bestow upon a member of the service and will only be awarded to the most deserving of members who have performed an exceptional act of bravery, risking their life in full knowledge of the risk concerned.

The medal is in the form of a Celtic cross. There are five panels on the face of the medal that depict the words “The Scott Medal”, “For Valor”, the eagle and the shield of the USA, the harp and sunburst and the Garda Crest. The reverse of the medal carries the inscription, “Garda Síochána na h-Éireann”. The 4 outside panels are the arms of the four provinces of Ireland - Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught.

Gold, Silver and Bronze Scott Medals

History of the Scott Medal

Scott Medals of Gold, Silver and Bronze are awarded by the Commissioner. Gold medals may be awarded to members who have displayed exceptional courage and heroism involving risk to life in the execution of duty. The Silver and Bronze medals may be awarded to members who have performed similar acts in the execution of duty, but with less risk to their lives and who are next in order of merit.

Each member receiving a Scott Medal will also receive a wooden citation outlining the details of the incident for which they received the award.

The largest number of awards was between 1971 and 1980, the worst decade for political violence, when 96 medals were awarded, followed closely by the period 1981 to 1990 when 88 medals were awarded. This period of heightened subversion contrasted sharply with the period 1951 to 1960 when medals were awarded to only six members of An Garda Síochána. To date, over 400 medals have been awarded to members of An Garda Síochána.

Scott Medal Awards 2024 Ceremony Booklet.pdf (size 1.3 MB)

Commissioner's Speech at the Attestation of Intake 233, 22 March 2024

Minister McEntee, Invited Guests, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning,

You are all very welcome to the Garda College for this happy occasion. I’m delighted to be here, these are the very best of days.

Today marks a very special day for you.

And also for your families and loved ones.

It is the day you will begin your career as a Garda.

It is a proud day and one that brings people together in celebration.

And as you celebrate, I might point to those who are here today who have made that possible.

Thank you to your families, to your loved ones, and your colleagues gathered around you today for their continued support.

An Garda Síochána is built upon the hard work, dedication and commitment given by its Gardaí and staff.

As one of the most trusted police services in the world, the vast majority of people believe An Garda Síochána delivers a good service.

These significant achievements have been made possible by the foundations laid by others who have passed through this college and stood where you are today.

And from today you will join them and strengthen this fine organisation.

As you embark on your new career, I want to remind you that both having and giving support is hugely important. Because this work, while very rewarding is not without its difficulties.

You will deal with incidents on a daily basis that can be stressful and traumatic.

But while it can be incredibly busy and challenging, there are supports there to guide you and assist you.

As the backbone of the organisation, it is crucial that you are supported in what you do - whether that be in the area of mental wellbeing supports, or operational equipment, or training.

That is why we have made improvements in these areas under A Policing Service For Our Future.

Among the supports you can expect is access to a Peer Support Network; the Garda Employee Assistance Service, the KOPS Wellbeing App, and our independent 24-hour counselling service.

I encourage you to make use of these supports and the support of your Sergeants and experienced Garda colleagues.

Of course having the right supports to do your job is also important. Enhanced personal safety equipment has recently been introduced, including stronger incapacitant spray. Like all your personal safety equipment it is there to protect you and society. Use it if you need to.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all for choosing a career in An Garda Síochána.

As I said to you earlier - it is an exciting career and one that is highly rewarding and fulfilling.

It is a career offering many possibilities and opportunities.

For instance, through the investments we have made in training, you will be able to upskill in areas such as human rights, economic crime, cyber-crime, and serious crime investigation.

Not only that, but this job offers great opportunities to advance.

Of course we do want to grow the organisation, and it is hoped to get to 15,000 Gardaí in time, which will mean new colleagues for you.

And our most recent recruitment campaign received over 6,300 applications, which is very reassuring. Indeed, I know some of you were involved in promoting this campaign by sharing your experiences of the training programme.

We are also eager to diversify as an organisation and are proud to be members of the 30% Club with women currently making up nearly half of our senior leadership team. Meanwhile, 31% of those applying to this recent recruitment campaign were women.

Furthermore, a high proportion of applicants - almost 25% - noted their ethnicity as being “other than white Irish”.

This is very encouraging as we seek to ensure that An Garda Síochána is truly representative and reflective of all the people we serve.

It shows that across a wide spectrum of society that many people think being a Garda is A Job Worth Doing.

It is also positive for you, and potential recruits, that the mandatory age of retirement will soon be increased to 62 years.

Shortly, you will leave through these gates to begin your careers as Gardaí. But you will not leave what you have learned behind you. Nor will your education cease. You will continue to expand your skills.

You will do so by proactively policing with communities.

By interacting and engaging with people each and every day.

Because community policing is at the heart of all that we do.

Already you have shown your commitment and drive while in training, and I know a number of you have already received compliments and commendations for assistance you provided.

When called upon you have ably reported for duty, and worked extra hours at short notice. So I want to thank you for this work, and for the commitment you have given to date.

Finally, to conclude,

Today is an immensely proud and important day for all of you.

Thank you all for your hard work and commitment.

As Gardaí, you will protect democracy, protect the vulnerable, and protect the human rights of everyone you come into contact with.

By working together in a spirit of mutual respect, collegiality and doing our best for the country, you will play your part in An Garda Síochána continuing to deliver a high quality policing and security service that keeps the people of Ireland safe.

I want to wish each of you every success in your career and look forward to working with you.

I congratulate you on becoming members of An Garda Síochána.

Thank you.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice Opening Statement 13 February 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice Opening Statement

13 February 2024

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris

I wish to thank the Committee for inviting me and my colleague Garda Chief Information Officer Andrew O’Sullivan here today.

Every major criminal investigation now involves processing digital evidence. This evidence often take the form of images or footage obtained from seized devices or CCTV. Two separate judgments from the Court of Appeal recently confirm that Gardaí have a duty to process available footage to identify or exclude suspects. In dismissing the respective appeal cases of Freddie Thompson and Philip Dunbar, the Court’s rulings were instructive in terms of the balance between a suspect’s right to privacy and the human rights of the victim.

Digitalisation in society has led to an explosion in the volume of digital footage as evidence. The footage from the 23 November riots runs to 22,000 hours. Individual murder investigations can have upwards of 50,000 hours of footage. Seized devices can have over a million images of child sexual abuse.

The key to these cases may just be in a few frames out of millions. A child’s school uniform crest can help to identify the victim. The importance of brief footage in a murder investigation that places Freddie Thompson in a particular make and colour of vehicle at a relevant time and place.

Digital evidence that Gardaí have a duty to process is now at Big Data scale in terms of its massive volume, complexity of formats and the rate at which it is generated. Digital crime and evidence can only be investigated with digital tools. Manual processing by Garda personnel sitting at screens is becoming unfeasible and ineffective. In the case of child sexual abuse material, which is the rape of children and every form of sexual depravity that can be visited on a defenceless victim, there is the traumatic impact on Garda members viewing the material. A number of members
of An Garda Síochána are on long term sick leave due to the trauma of viewing these images, which can never be unseen.

In order to be effective at fulfilling our mandate to protect victims, investigate crime and vindicate the human rights of citizens in a digital society, An Garda Síochána must have access to modern digital image analysis and recognition tools.

There is understandable public concern and some confusion about AI technology. I wish to clarify that digitalisation in An Garda Síochána means that electronic tools act only as a support for decisions taken by Gardaí. There is no question of autonomous machine decision making, ever. All decisions that can impact on a person are only taken by identifiable and accountable personnel. This decision support approach is already used. People make the final decision on driver penalty notices issued initiated by Go Safe vans, the 600,000 vetting applications processed annually, the use of technology to flag uninsured vehicles and the existing use of biometric processing in online abuse cases. We have outlined the wider set of use cases where we need to apply image analysis and recognition technology. It is worth noting that only one of these use cases involves actually attempting to identify people. Most of them involve searching or sifting massive amounts of evidence for material that is relevant. The successful use of decision support tools by Garda witnesses has never been successfully challenged in criminal trials.

An Garda Síochána has invested significantly in digital policing, including the in house expert professionals required to build and manage the underlying technology and data. This had directly contributed to the effectiveness of major investigations as well as establishing our reputation for high quality data, as confirmed by the CSO in October 2023.

The reliability of biometric decision support tools is demonstrated by the success of the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau in detecting and prosecuting online abuse cases, often as part of transnational investigations. The 99%+ accuracy of modern biometric identification systems is clearly demonstrated by the bi-annual review by the U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). We intend to follow the practice of European law enforcement partners in using the NIST ratings to select the best available technology.

There must be safeguards but these should be proportionate to the risks involved in the specific use cases.

In summary, extending the already accurate, reliable and safe usage of image analysis and biometric identification technology beyond abuse cases to other serious criminal investigations is essential for An Garda Síochána to keep people safe in a rapidly changing digital society, to counter emerging threats and to meet our obligations to work with European law enforcement partners to counter Transnational Organised Crime.

Commissioner's Speech at the Attestation of Intake 232, 15 December 2023

You are all very welcome to the Garda College.

Today is a very special and important day for you – our newest Gardaí. Serving the people of Ireland is a privilege and an honour. And as you go out to your new stations in the coming days, I want to thank you for the commitment you have made here today to serve the people of Ireland. Thank you for pledging to keep them safe. Let me also say thank you for choosing a career in An Garda Síochána because it is a job worth doing.

I know this day came slightly quicker than had been anticipated, but adapting to changing circumstances is part of your duties. Having 151 extra Gardaí in communities during the Christmas and New Year period will make a difference. It will aid our efforts to increase Garda visibility, prevent and detect crime, and provide public reassurance. That is the difference a Garda makes and it is the difference you will make in the coming weeks and in the years ahead.

Throughout 2023 we have seen the importance of police work. Most recently, we saw Gardaí courageously put themselves in harm’s way to protect the people of Dublin. This dedication, courage and professionalism in the face of significant abuse and violence should be an inspiration and example to you all.

From this day on you can be certain of one thing, no two days in policing will be the same. There will be days that will challenge you, that will demand a lot from you that will fill you with a deep sense of achievement and fulfilment. This is a tough job, but also an incredibly rewarding one.

Being a Garda brings with it a whole host of exciting opportunities. You will work to strengthen our ties with communities. You will have opportunities to effect real and meaningful change in your locality. You will prevent crime, you will uphold the rule of law, and you will help bring offenders to justice. You will also work closely with the victims of crime. You will meet people experiencing dark days and you will meet people who have suffered tremendous loss. You can bring hope. You can bring solace. You can offer a helping hand and provide a listening ear.

From this day, your skills and knowledge will only grow, because you will also learn on the job. You will learn so much about yourselves as individuals and as Gardaí. And all of this will shape the type of Garda you will become.

Being a Garda gives you a greater understanding of people, of communities, and of the struggles faced by others. Most of all you will learn how to effectively use the skills you have gained here at the Garda College to help those in need of assistance. Already, during your training, you have had some experience of police work. I’m aware that some of you have been involved in some significant drug investigations, yielding great results. Others have been exposed to some very serious tragedies including road traffic collisions with multiple fatalities, and you have been involved in efforts to save lives. So you already have some idea of what is expected and have shown yourselves to be capable and up to the task.

Today I encourage you to take some time to take stock of all the hard work that it has taken, for you to get to this day. It is a day to be proud of all that you have achieved. It is a day to gather with family members and friends, and look forward to what this exciting career will bring. I’d like to also say thank you to your families. They have supported you. And they will be there for you throughout your career as a Garda.

You are joining an organisation that is here to support you. Your colleagues are there to assist so take their advice, learn from them, and be guided by their experience. It is okay to seek help. Whether you have just attended a difficult incident or interacted with a victim of crime, it is good to talk, seek out a colleague, and discuss those interactions. It might not hit you right away but when it does, reach out. We have a range of independent supports available to you through the employment assistance service. These are a great resource, please if you need to use them.

Lastly, It is our responsibility as serving Gardaí to maintain the highest standards. To act ethically. To act professionally. To act with integrity. To protect the human rights of everyone you come into contact with. It is what the public expect of you, and it is what I expect of you.

It is an exciting day for you, and I know an exciting career awaits you.

I look forward to working with you into the future.

Congratulations on becoming members of An Garda Síochána. Thank you.