Templemore, Ireland – Garda Commissioner Drew Harris stated today that recent attacks on members of the Indian community in Ireland are driven by racism, criminality, and the targeting of vulnerable people. Speaking at his final graduation ceremony before his retirement, Commissioner Harris said that investigations are progressing and are being supervised at the highest levels of An Garda Síochána, noting his concern over the apparent involvement of juveniles.
The Commissioner’s remarks were made at the graduation of 154 new gardaí at the Garda College in Templemore. The diverse class included recruits from 26 different countries, with the youngest being 19-year-old Hannah Egan and the oldest, 50-year-old Michael Connolly, a League of Ireland referee.
Internal Investigations and Growth
Five recruits who were scheduled to graduate were suspended and are under investigation for alleged bullying after another recruit was reportedly attacked and handcuffed in the showers. While Commissioner Harris described the incident as an “aberration,” he emphasized that high standards are demanded of all trainee gardaí.
Harris also highlighted the growth of the Garda organization, which now stands at 14,408 sworn gardaí. While 100 new gardaí were recently assigned to Dublin, he noted that more new recruits are now being assigned to stations in the regions. Of the latest graduating class, 66 gardaí are being assigned to the south of the country, with 20 heading to Cork City.
Retirement and Future Outlook
This was the last graduation ceremony for Commissioner Harris, who will be succeeded by Justin Kelly on September 1st. Harris described his appointment as the highlight of his policing career, and he believes the organization is now more united and better equipped, particularly in its approach to domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking. While acknowledging that corruption can exist in any organization, he maintained that it is not a “systemic” issue within An Garda Síochána.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan thanked Harris for his service and expressed optimism about the government’s target of recruiting 5,000 new gardaí over the next five years. He mentioned that a departmental group is exploring proposals to increase recruitment numbers, including the possibility of a second Garda college. However, he affirmed that Templemore will remain the primary training center, with a capacity for 200 new recruits per intake.
Minister O’Callaghan also addressed recent criticisms about the safety of Dublin, stating that while criminal incidents occur in any large capital city, he believes Dublin is “getting safer.” He emphasized that he feels safe walking around the city “day or night” and noted that crime figures show a decrease in assaults. He recently met with the Indian community to express his concern about the attacks and reassured them of the police’s commitment to their safety.
