AS five new garda recruits join Bandon Garda Station this week, it has also been confirmed that Clonakilty Garda Station and District will now become a training centre for garda probationers, giving the Cork West Division two training stations. The new garda recruits arrived at Bandon Garda Station on Monday on transfer from the Garda College in Templemore.

Bandon is their first posting where they will be assigned to uniform duties at the station, and will have a tutor garda mentoring them.

It is also expected that Clonakilty Garda Station will get five new recruits later this summer, following its status upgrade to a training centre for garda probationers after a detailed assessment by garda authorities.

This will have no effect on Bandon’s status as the Divisional Headquarters for Cork West.

‘We’re absolutely delighted to be getting these five new members – three girls and two boys – straight out of Templemore and these probationer gardaí will be working in Bandon Garda Station, which was up to now the only training centre in our division,’ said Chief Supt Con Cadogan of Cork West Division.

‘Also as of Monday last week, Clonakilty Garda Station has been designated a training centre and hopefully will also get several new recruits,’ Chief Supt Cadogan added. ‘This latest allocation of new recruits now brings the number of gardaí in the Cork West Division to 283.’

Chief Supt Cadogan said that the increase in garda numbers in his division is good news for communities.

‘Obviously, it creates a safer environment for everyone and our aim is to reduce crime and road deaths and work with communities.’

The five new garda recruits include Gda Aishling O’Connell who hails from Castleisland in Co Kerry and is a member of the Kerry Senior Ladies Football Team and the Garda College Ladies Football Team; Gda Ciaran Leahy from Tipperary Town; Gda Neil Ryan who is also from Tipperary; Gda Ellen Crowley who is from Cork city who plays camogie with St Finbarr’s Hurling and Football Club, and Gda Nicola Cogan, who is also from Cork city.