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Leah Farrell

'Abandoned to the scrap heap': Gardaí describe management attitude to their mental health issues

More than one in six rank-and-file members of An Garda Síochána may have PTSD.

‘ANXIOUS’, ‘CONSTANTLY STRESSED’, ‘IGNORED’.

These are just some of the terms rank-and-file gardaí used in their answers to a wellbeing survey carried out by their representative association.

At the Garda Representative Association conference last month, interim results from the survey revealed more than one in six rank-and-file members of An Garda Síochána may have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Dr Finian Fallon, a psychotherapist and Dean of Psychology who carried out the study, told delegates at the conference that 16% of the force’s almost 12,000 frontline members may have PTSD. Overall, 27% may be what he described as “walking wounded” in terms of “distress and impairment in their lives as a result of trauma”.

Today the full wellbeing survey report was published, including hundreds of testimonials from members of the organisation. Here is just a sample of the comments in relation to mental health issues and how the organisation deals with them:

  • I have had to take two periods of extended sick leave over the past… years because of work related PTSD. While X understood my sickness, unfortunately management did not and ignored both my own cries for help and the recommendations… to a point where my mental health took a double hit both from my PTSD and management’s intransigence and delay in dealing with my situation. Due to this totally avoidable delay in acting, I feel I am now abandoned to the scrap heap.
  • No support for trauma following the witnessing of serious incidents. Can’t get out of head and nervous dealing with issues on a work and personal level. Constant anxious feeling. Welfare system present put I don’t want to be seen to use same. First time to write something like this.
  • I feel under complete stress all the time in work due to workload and constantly having to double guess myself. Always wondering and waiting to be caught out by higher authorities. This job has affected my life, family life, I’m on sleeping tablets for years which don’t help me most nights. It’s all the pressure I face in work. I never go sick but some days I physically can’t lift my head off the table with lack of sleep. The stress of this job is going to take lives. Be warned.
  • I was bullied in work several years ago at a different station to the point of being suicidal. When I finally cracked and said it, my first day back to work I got a bollocking and then directions came down that I was to see x but it never materialised, no will to follow-up on member’s welfare.
  • I am constantly stressed because of this job. I have suffered severe sleep problems especially over the last few years. The amount of changes that we are expected to keep up to date with while trying to do our daily duties is overwhelming and I am constantly battling anxiety because of this job. If I have could go back in time I definitely would have chosen a different career path.
  • I pretty much give up on the job.
  • I feel that there is a real lack of understanding of mental health issues within the organisation. I have suffered from depression and PTSD as a result of having been involved in numerous incidents where I was the first responder to fatal accidents and suicides. The job has only lately brought in counselling services. It should be mandatory to get counselling if you are the first responder to incidents involving fatal RTA and traumatic incidents.
  • Having attended numerous scenes of murders, dead bodies, fatal accidents, scenes of horrific nature, 23 years and still never been offered counselling. Peer Support options [are inadequate]. Anything you tell them will be heard back. Zero confidentiality so nobody tells anybody anything and nobody talks about traumatic scenarios.
  • Lack of any form of support after traumatic event. 24-hour phone support service is not sufficient. After a traumatic incident I developed PTSD and was told by the state that they would not pay for counselling. Medical insurance would not cover it as trauma occurred on duty. Told to pay for it out of my own pocket. Seriously affected my life and work for the best part of a decade afterwards. Wasn’t even invited to be assessed… over it.

Commenting on the publication of the report, John O’Keeffe, the GRA’s director of communications said internal operational pressures and external life demands make many members susceptible to very high stress levels.

“We have experienced the tragic loss of a number of our colleagues recently and we commiserate deeply with their families, colleagues and friends. These losses may be indicative of underlying personal challenges in the force. This survey points us towards solutions and demonstrate to members how seriously the association take these critical issues,” he said.

The GRA has demonstrated a progressive and member-focused approach in agreeing to this survey. Worldwide surveys of this type demonstrate a high level of stress and trauma among police men and women.

“With significant symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (perhaps close to a third of gardaí first responders are what Dr Fallon describes as “walking wounded” from a wellbeing perspective), the organisation of An Garda Síochána now urgently need to quantify these issues and assess how they may be dealt with.”

The Policing Authority is due to address the results of this survey with senior garda management in its private session tomorrow.

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42 Comments
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    Mute Sean
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    Jul 25th 2018, 7:50 PM

    Knowing that you will be able to retire at 50 financially secure on a pension costing in the region of EUR1.5million must help on the gloomy days.

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    Mute Anthony Davoren
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    Jul 25th 2018, 8:06 PM

    @Sean: you’re talking nonsense. U can’t retire at 50. And I’ve yet to see a guard a millionaire after retirement. The pension is of small concern after dealing with fatal accidents and suicides at your workplace. Can u even imagine facing those situations?

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    Mute Ronan Quinn
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    Jul 25th 2018, 8:08 PM

    @Sean: When you’re not part of the solution Sean, you’re part of the problem. You sir are part of the problem. They pay into their pensions as do all in the economy. Having a pension isn’t any good when the quality of life listed above is as poor as is quoted.

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    Mute Albert Brennerman
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    Jul 25th 2018, 8:14 PM

    @Sean:
    Yea Sean thats actually a total MYTH and a Lie that is never corrected by media.
    If a Garda so much as gets paid any form of PRSI after retiring she loses 33% of her pension. So at 50 presuming (someone joined at 20 )a Garda is getting maybe 400 euro take home but if they work any job they lose their PRSI component so you need all debt gone, children done with college etc and you could make it.
    And when they hit 66 after paying their pension they remove the PRSI component anyway and replace with OAP. So your pension now worth 26000 -12600. The Garda pension is worth about 13000 a yr topped up with social welfare because your forced to retire by 60…..
    Why are you forced to retire – >
    Because you don’t really want 50 year old Garda Pops it doesn’t suit the work so you want them to go. So you top up a 13000 euro pension with basically OAP until they die.
    Probably read up on it all available online but nobody likes to say it. Avg age of retirement 56 I think.

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    Mute Sean
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    Jul 25th 2018, 8:17 PM

    @Anthony Davoren: I’d direct you to the first line of the GRA pension website. A member may retire at age 50 subject to having completed 30 years of service.
    https://gra.ie/information/pension-retirement/

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    Mute Sean
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    Jul 25th 2018, 8:22 PM

    @Albert Brennerman: A Garda retiring at 60 with a €102,000 lump sum and €34,000 pension would have their pot valued at €1.8 million, including the spouse’s benefit. That makes the average retiring Garda a millionaire.

    https://www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/public-sector-pensions-worth-millions-new-figures-show-1.3143604

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    Mute Ronan Quinn
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    Jul 25th 2018, 8:37 PM

    @Sean: It does not make the average Garda a millionaire you fruit cake. You just said they get €34k p/a! Anyway, what relevance has your incorrect view on pensions got to do with the article is about mental health and PTSD.
    No amount of money would make life bearable if they’re suffering from PTSD.

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    Mute Colonel Grant
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    Jul 25th 2018, 8:59 PM

    @Sean:

    Absolutely correct. Gardai, of all ranks who joined prior to April 2004, are entitled to retire at 50 years of age provided they have 30 years service. In addition some Gardai who joined prior to 1983, can retire at 50 with only 25 years, can retire on a slightly reduced pension, if they opted to do so. Gardai who joined after 2004 must work till 55 and serve 30 years. A Garda Sergeant now retiring at 50 receives a gratuity of just under 100,000 euro approx and annual pension of 34,000 approx.

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    Mute Sean
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    Jul 25th 2018, 9:01 PM

    @Ronan Quinn: An annuity pension that pays out €34K per annum would cost in the region of 26 times that to purchase. That brings you up to 884K. The 100K+ lump sum brings the total to over one million.

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    Mute Anthony Davoren
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    Jul 25th 2018, 9:24 PM

    @Sean: I think you’ll find that is not the case. It’s 55 now. Get the up to date facts. I like how you completely ignored my other point also. You are a troll

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    Mute jagmerc
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    Jul 25th 2018, 9:30 PM

    @Sean: ya but it does not mean that a person is a millionaire

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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Jul 25th 2018, 9:55 PM

    @Sean: don’t know where ya got your figures from mister. The rank and file gardai are retiring on small pensions, and only a small number retire at 50 , they can stay till 60 , and a lot do so because they cannot afford to leave and live on half pay.

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    Mute Colonel Grant
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    Jul 25th 2018, 9:56 PM

    @Anthony Davoren:

    Incorrect again Anthony. It’s 55 for they guys who joined after 2004 (April). On the downside of course Gardai who joined prior to 1995 do not get any form on contributory OAP, as they,pay a very reduced rate of PRSI. This is why several Gardai retire in their early fifties, and take up alternative employment where they pay full PRSI and provided they make the required contributions, ten years I think, can then avail of a full OAP pension, in addition to their Garda pension.

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    Mute Sean
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    Jul 25th 2018, 10:47 PM

    @jagmerc: A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. If a guards pension and lump sum exceed €1million euro when purchased on the open market that would make him / her a millionaire, yes. What part of this can’t you get?

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    Mute Sean
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    Jul 25th 2018, 10:49 PM

    @Eugene Comaskey: well I think it should be obvious where i got my figures from as I posted links to both the GRA and the Irish Times website.

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    Mute Sean
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    Jul 25th 2018, 10:55 PM

    @Anthony Davoren: I think you’ll find that you said guards can’t retire at 50. That statement was incorrect even if that perk has been revised to 55 for new entrants clearly it still applies to the majority of the current workforce. The other part of your comment about it being such a tough job I ignored but I certainly wouldn’t disagree with this sentiment.

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    Mute Brian Jp Kelington
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    Jul 25th 2018, 11:35 PM

    @Sean: its 58

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    Mute Albert Brennerman
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    Jul 26th 2018, 12:45 AM

    @Sean:
    Yes Sean Irish TImes knows more, and in austerity , sure no Agenda when that was written.

    Tell you what Sean you are so knowledgeable tell the readers here what is allowed into the calculation for a Garda pension ? Half Salary , Half Earnings per year ? Do they work loads of overtime in last few years ramping it up ? Please inform us.

    Please inform us this scam is continuing, where they all laugh to the bank and never attend car accidents, suicides, home assaults, lads puking on your clothes, kids in the middle of it, all that stuff that someone seems to look after but sure couldn’t be the rich Garda in the midst of all that, maybe its the tooth fairy or the Easter Bunny.

    Also Do an FoI see how many Gardaí retire age 50.

    Hey OAP at 67 lives for 20 years walks away with 1/4 of a Mill. SCANDAL Them boys in Armani day in day out living the dream too. Hey Sean, tell the readers, Do Gardaí get that as well ?

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    Mute Karl
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    Jul 26th 2018, 10:57 AM

    @Sean: Jesus Sean, every time you comment that number goes up. It was a million not so long ago

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    Mute Karl
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    Jul 26th 2018, 11:01 AM

    @Sean: so, that’s including their spouses pension allowance AND the public state pension that they get through prsi. Wow, a whole 34k!

    Huge money, huge after paying 7% of your pay including overtime for 30 years and including the 12k that everyone gets even if they never worked.

    So, all they have to do is live until about 90 to reap the rewards. Yeah, that’s common alright

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    Mute David B Kelly
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    Jul 26th 2018, 11:00 PM

    @Anthony Davoren:

    Advanced Paramedics/ Paramedics and fire fighters face this type of scenario on a regular basis.
    At least in the guards and fire service you can retire at a decent age and one would hope in good health.
    Medics have to have 40 years completed before they are entitled to a pension. It’s a fair amount of your life .

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    Mute Canny Jem
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    Jul 25th 2018, 8:41 PM

    I’m very surprised that this has not been recognised long before now. In fact, I wonder do new young raw recruits to An Garda Síochána, Fire Brigade and Ambulance Services receive any training in how to deal with whatever they find at traumatic RTA or fire scenes, like what one Garda said in the report above.
    Garda personnel, like Fire Brigade and Ambulance personnel, being the first responders at a traumatic scene can have life-long memory images that do give rise to the disorder of PTS.
    A severe case in point was when, a few years ago, first responders to a RTA had to face the scene of a speeding car that had had its roof sliced off after going under the back of a truck, and finding the six young occupants had been decapitated. A number of the Firemen and Gardaí who attended the scene had to leave their jobs because they couldn’t face such a scene again.
    My hat’s off to all brave first responders who have to face traumatic scenes – and clean up the bloody human mess. Somebody has to do that job.
    I really would like to know if Gardaí and other first responders receive any realistic Pre-Trauma scene training, and if it’s effective.

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    Mute Karl
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    Jul 26th 2018, 11:05 AM

    @Canny Jem: gardai do not get any welfare support. Paramedics and fire have mandatory follow ups within 24 hours.

    The gardai that dealt with that tragic incident in Donegal where the car went off the pier got no support

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    Mute Lisa Byrne
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    Jul 25th 2018, 7:42 PM

    This needs to be addressed before it turns into an even bigger scandal years down the line with lawsuits against the state.

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    Mute Siobhàn Malone
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    Jul 25th 2018, 8:22 PM

    Paramedics are work beside the Gardai in most of these horrific scenes and situations.
    HSE paramedics are expected to work for 40 years to earn full pension which is an impossible task with only a fraction of personnel can achieve….

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    Mute Karl
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    Jul 26th 2018, 11:10 AM

    @Siobhàn Malone: paramedics don’t wrestle criminals and they get far more support services as they are mandatory within 24 hours.

    The article is about lack of support services not retirement age. Try to keep up

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    Mute David B Kelly
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    Jul 26th 2018, 11:09 PM

    @Karl:

    Karl unsure where your info is coming from but there is absolutely no mandatory follow up from medics as you describe.
    So maybe it’s you that should be keeping up.

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    Mute Karl
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    Jul 28th 2018, 6:47 PM

    @David B Kelly: Nas have follow ups with councillors as does dfb and at least 1 other fire service. Limerick I believe.

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    Mute Aidan Mitchell
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    Jul 25th 2018, 7:39 PM

    It’s the Government’s (and past governments) NATIONAL attitude…!

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    Mute Michael Curtin
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    Jul 25th 2018, 9:16 PM

    The Guards are little more than a gang.A gang with a pension plan.

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    Mute Jeff Nolan
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    Jul 26th 2018, 12:05 AM

    @Michael Curtin: You are whats wrong with this country. Begrudger.

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    Mute Karl
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    Jul 26th 2018, 11:06 AM

    @Michael Curtin: do join up and let us know all about it

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    Mute Maggie O'Sullivan
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    Jul 25th 2018, 8:17 PM

    Sounds like a terrible place to work. I’d leave and get another job.

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    Mute John Gallagher
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    Jul 26th 2018, 9:17 AM

    Massive respect for these people, give them the support they need!!!

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    Mute Denis McClean
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    Jul 26th 2018, 1:51 AM

    Not all, obviously, and there are seriously great and conscientious people out there but they are few and far between. Public Service, like politicians, have no accountability and either milk it or claim damages for a job that lesser humans would do minus the grief. It’s called entitlement..

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    Mute Karl
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    Jul 26th 2018, 11:07 AM

    @Denis McClean: the majority of public sector jobs come with plenty of oversight. Far more than the private sector

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    Mute Karl
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    Jul 26th 2018, 11:08 AM

    Perhaps Sean and all the other begrudgers could let us know how their applications are getting on?

    It is afterall such an easy and overpaid job with fantastic perks and little drawbacks.

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    Mute Mark McDermott
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    Jul 26th 2018, 10:52 AM

    That’s not good reading, something needs to be done to support rank and file Garda. Everyone of the stories tells the same thing, no supports and management don’t care. Very very worrying.

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    Mute Barry Foster
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    Jul 26th 2018, 1:14 PM

    Gardai can retire on a full pension after serving just over 21 years. The majority of people working in the private sector do not have any pensions and couldn’t afford a similar defined benefit pension in their wildest dreams Commission of enquiry years ago said1500 Gardai needed to be removed from clerical duties in Dublin and returned to normal.policing …..to date 43 Gardai reassigned – keep up the good work lads lol

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    Mute Karl
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    Jul 28th 2018, 6:49 PM

    @Barry Foster: 21 years? Jesus, better explain how to all those fools going 30 so

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    Mute Brian O Sullivan
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    Jul 27th 2018, 7:19 PM

    When I was a child (nearly 50 years ago)I was taught to trust and respect all Gardai. My many life experiences across various contexts sharply contrasts with that idea. They know what they are signing up for. Prioritising and taking responsibility for one’s own self care is a good starting point along with the idea that PTSD is a normal response to certain environments. It is the fire services and paramedics that do the work on scene. Gardai are usually the last to arrive…

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    Mute Karl
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    Jul 28th 2018, 6:52 PM

    @Brian O Sullivan: considering the fact that in many counties dialing 999 / 112 gets the gardai and then they have to notify the retained fire crew, I think you are talking rubbish.

    But then I don’t know any paramedic or hosefairy that begrudges the gardai anymore then gardai begrudge back

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