Garda Síochána
- Note: This article has been thoroughly vetted by the Intelligence Branch. Luckily, they couldn't find the 'edit' button, so nothing has been added or removed. The Intelligence Branch are dealt with (poorly) later in the article.
Garda Síochána na hÉireann (Irish pronunciation: [ˈɡaːrd̪ə ˈʃiːxaːn̪ˠə n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ]; Irish for "Guard(ians) of the Peace of Ireland"), more commonly referred to as the Gardaí, is the police force of the Republic of Ireland. They are an inefficient, unarmed police force. They were set up in 1922 by Pat Deasy, Minister for Agriculture, Fishin' and Justice. Its headquarters are located in a small pub, Phoenix Park, in Dublin.
The exact role of the Gardai is not exactly known. Because the constitution was made in 1922, many of the passages are outdated and so their role is somewhat unsure. The 1923 Crimies Against the State Act, the role of the Gardai is:
- To keep "Stig" off the dole.
- To maintain law and order
- To make sure Centra and Spar continue selling breakfast rolls
- To prevent speeding on bicycles by the general public.
- To protect the Irish Republic and her borders.
- To injure protesters.
- To defend Democracy.
- To support the Navy in areas like sea and mountain rescue or arrest.
- To make sure that no one over-fishes or over-farms.
All Garda operators are expected to spend at least 30 years in the Traffic Corps, and then the rest of their service as a detective at full pay, where they may be drafted into the Special Branch.
Introduction
In 1922 the Irish State had recently formed and needed a police force. At first, the Gardai were an armed force, but after several accidents, the guns were confiscated, and the Gardai became an unarmed police force. The Gardai are broken into several Corps. These include:
- The Special Branch (they're special)
- The Traffic Corps (the largest corps in the police force)
- The Regulars (the least regular of them all)
- The ERU (Emergency Response Unit)
- The Garda Intelligence Branch (the smallest branch in the Gardai)
Training and Selection
Selection
At the age of 18, an applicant is ready to begin the grueling weekend selection and training course at the Academy. They spend Friday doing physical training, including sit-ups and jogging on the spot. After this, the instructor will decide whether they are able to continue the training course known as Continuation.
Continuation Training Phase
On Saturday, they begin a grueling 'telling people to stop' course as preparation for their long thirty years manning checkpoints and operating speed cameras.
They also do one hour of firearms practice. This stage is being considered for discontinuation due to many accidents and soaring insurance prices. At six, they eat, and at ten, they go for a half-kilometre jog around Dublin, and then they sleep at half ten.
Completion
On Sunday morning, they are given a quick driving course, and after that are given new uniforms to wear to the Completion Ceremony, where they are given the famous winged hat badge. After this, they are sent to their local station at full pay as a Traffic Corps officer.
History and Past Operations
The Special Branch have been involved in the prevention of tiger kidnappings. The Celtic Tiger population in Ireland has been greatly reduced as a result. In 2003, there was a large robbery in which several million euros were stolen.
The ERU have been marred by some major...incidents. In 1990 something, a man barricaded himself in his house near Abbylara with a shotgun and wouldn't come out. He exited his house after a five hour siege and was shot dead because, according to a senior Garda "He was looking a bit shifty."
In 2006, in Gort, Co. Galway a similar incident took place. The man was once again shot, although a number of shots were discharged by him, so I suppose this one wasn't a cold blooded murder.
Trivia
- No ERU operation has ended without a fatality. They are still hoping to maintain this.
- The Intelligence Branch is the smallest branch of the Gardai.
- Minister Michael Mc Dowell is not the current Minister for Justice.
- Further funding for the Gardai is expected to be given in 2030 (with any luck).