Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the Garda could continue to recruit beyond the planned 15,000 officer limit in the wake of a patrol car being rammed in Cherry Orchard.
She was responding to a serving garda’s claim that a lack of new recruits is leaving massive shortages. Car thieves ran amok in Ballyfermot, West Dublin, in three stolen vehicles last Monday evening.
One of the cars rammed a Garda patrol twice, with two female officers inside. With current strength at 14,318 officers Mrs McEntee yesterday admitted there are “not enough gardai”.
