A number of Garda candidates who completed their application process in 2022 and 2023 have withdrawn from the process as their vetting was still outstanding, while 2024 applicants are being admitted to the Garda College without their vetting completed.
One applicant told BreakingNews.ie that they completed the application process in February 2022, but made the difficult decision to withdraw from the process still waiting to hear back on their vetting while this year's candidates are admitted to the Garda College.
When they asked for progress updates, they were told "suitability checks outstanding".
While the rules previously prohibited any applicant from starting in the Garda College in Templemore without complete vetting, the rules appear to have been amended for 2024 applicants with numbers in An Garda Síochana falling across the country.
Several applicants from the 2022 and 2023 competition have reached out to express their frustration at the change, which they say they were not notified about.
The rigorous application process includes online exams, a written interview, a fitness test, a medical examination, and three local station interviews.
Emails sent to 2024 applicants [which can be seen in the picture] congratulated them on admittance to the Garda College in Templemore, while acknowledging their vetting was still ongoing.
The emails note "your application process is now in the final stages of Garda vetting, enabling us now to offer you a trainee position".
They add: "This vetting process will complete as soon as possible and may extend into the training period". It adds that the vetting process must be completed "by the end of the training period".
The candidate who withdrew from the process said they feel Garda management is "making a total mockery of all candidates still waiting from 2022 and 2023".
A generic email in response to their withdrawal read: "I want to acknowledge receipt of your email and note your withdrawal from the Garda Trainee Competition. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in An Garda Síochána and to wish you the best in your future endeavours."
Another candidate, who is still waiting and finished the application process in 2023, told BreakingNews.ie that they know of a number of other candidates who have withdrawan from the process while waiting for their vetting.
"The next intake due to enter the Garda College is mostly filled with only 2024 applicants while us in the previous competitions are being forgotten about and totally ignored.
"I know of a few people who withdrew themselves from the competition over the unfair treatment by HRM [Garda HR division].
"If I’m being honest when I see the pictures next week of the new intake I will feel rage knowing how they got in without vetting being complete.
"I can’t understand how we can’t get this conditional offer if they want to boost the numbers, why only 2024 applicants when there is several waiting from the previous two competitions?"
BreakingNews.ie has contacted An Garda Síochána for comment.
