Eleven Tipperary people were amongst 271 new Gardai who graduated from the Garda College in Templemore on Friday last.
The graduates were told by the Minister for Justice, Mr. Dermot Ahern that new powers given to Gardai under the Criminal Justice Act would be of good assistance to the force, particularly in relation to gangland crime.
The eleven Tipperary graduat
es were: Garda John Maher of Roscrea, who will be stationed in Tramore, Garda Martin Mitchell, Nenagh (Ennistymon), Garda Denis Golden, Cashel (Fermoy), Garda Aileen Forde, Silvermines (Finglas), Garda Gerard Byrne, Roscrea (Naas), Garda James Bourke, Nenagh (Watercourse Road, Cork City), Garda Michael Byrnes, Tipperary (Bray), Garda Martin Butler, Dolla (Watercourse Road), Garda David Mansfield, Clonmel (Roxboro Road), Garda Richard Horgan, Dundrum (Brideswell), Garda James McGrath, Nenagh (Store Street).
In addition six new graduates will be stationed in County Tipperary. They are; Garda Orla Walsh of Cullohill who will be based in Clonmel, Garda Seamus Kelly, Shannon (Nenagh), Garda David Barry, Mayfield, Cork (Cahir), Garda Michael Fitzgerald, Mayfield, Cork (Tipperary Town), Garda Ellen O'Herlihy, Ovens, Cork (Templemore), Garda Mairead Hehir, Mayorstone, Limerick (Cahir).
Garda James Clarke of Carrickmacross, Co. Down was awarded the Commissioner's Medal for the student attaining the highest academic marks during training.
Garda Raymond Moloney of Martinstown, Kilmallock won the Gary Sheehan Memorial Medal for the best all-round student and Garda Kieran Murphy from Carrigrohane Road, Cork won the Templemore Town Council Medal for social science studies.
The new Gardai were addressed by the Garda Commissioner, Mr. Fachtna Murphy who stated that his officers would not hold back on using new legislation to bring gang bosses to justice.
Mr. Murphy said new legislation, signed last week by President Mary McAleese would be implemented in a proportionate and appropriate way and he warned that the spiral of gangland murders had to stop.
Mr. Ahearn stated that experience in other countries had shown that any relaxation of controls on gun ownership or registration very quickly resulted in dramatic growth in firearms. He would not, he said, allow that to happen on his watch.
