Gardai face raft of retirements
SEVERAL TO GO BY END OF FEBRUARY
SOME OF the most knowledgeable and experienced gardai in the Sligo, Ballymote and Manorhamilton areas have already recently retired or will do so before the end of February.
The exodus is part of national trend which is expected to continue until the end of next month, after which those who retire would then see their pensions slashed in line with pay cuts across the public service.
About six gardai in the Sligo town area are expected to be retiring. Among them are two of the area's best-known detective gardai, John Mchale and Eddie Machale. It's thought at least four or five other gardai attached to Sligo Garda Station intend to soon leave the force.
Already, Garda Dympna Furey has retired in Sligo as has Garda Gerard Shannon, who was stationed in Grange.
In the Ballymote garda area, which now stretches from the Roscommon border at Ballyfarnon to the Mayo border outside Ballina, three gardai have already retired. They are Garda Tom Doherty, who was stationed in Tubbercurry, and, more recently, Garda John Hanley, who was attached to Bunninadden station which has closed, and Garda Helen Diskin in Ballymote.
In the Manorhamilton area, strategically important because of its proximity to the Border, two detective gardai, John Conlon and Tom Flynn, have already retired.
Some gardai may not have been due to retire for another 12 to 18 months but have decided to apply to leave the Force early because of the pensions levy and possible tax increases. The Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, has already confirmed that 500 gardai were due to retire by the end of last year but this figure is expected to be much higher by the end of February.
All garda members may retire from the age of 50, or when they have completed 30 years service. Alternatively, they may remain in the job until they are 60.
Cost-cutting plans to reduce the force from 14,500 to 13,000 by the end of 2013 were agreed by the previous government as part of Ireland's deal with the EU/IMF.
- HARRY KEANEY
