Six new Garda graduates assigned to Tullamore

Six of the new Garda recruits who graduated in Templemore earlier today (Friday) will be stationed in Tullamore.

They were part of a group of 206 officers who were attested as sworn members of An Garda Síochána at a ceremony attended by Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan this morning.

New Gardai Jack Delaney, Lisa Maher, Petrina Sheridan, Conor Shortt, Daryl O'Shaughnessy and Cathal Dervin are each to be stationed in Offaly's county town.

The group was part of of intake 254, which began its Garda training last November.

The new graduates consisted of 142 men and 64 women in total, including 24 Gardaí born outside the State.

It was the largest single class to graduate since before the Covid-19 pandemic, and brings the total number of sworn officers in the force to 14,733.

Offaly TD John Clendennen welcomed the new officers for the county.

"It's good news to see Offaly receive six new Gardaí, all of whom will be stationed in Tullamore," he stated. "These new Gardaí will have a real and positive impact on our streets and in our communities in Offaly."

However he added that Garda resources across the county needed to be expanded further.

“While this is a welcome development, I have consistently called for additional Garda resources across Offaly, including a strengthened Garda presence in areas such as Edenderry, having previously raised this directly with An Taoiseach in the Dáil.

"As I said at the time, community confidence in policing matters. More Gardaí for Tullamore should lead to increased visibility in our communities across the county and this can only be a good thing," he stated.