Garda Representative Association survey of 40 former members describes ‘worrying work culture’ as gardaí feel undervalued and overworked
The GRA said 107 members of garda rank resigned from the force in 2022 and so far this year the number stood at 106. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill The Garda organisation is in crisis with officers leaving the force over morale and working conditions, the Garda Representative Association has said.
The GRA said 107 members of garda rank resigned from the force in 2022 and so far this year numbers of those resigning have reached 106, with many of them describing a worrying work culture where bullying, mental stress and burn out were rife. The GRA challenged previous comments by the Garda Commissioner to the effect that morale in An Garda Síochána was good, saying those who left have spoken of feeling undervalued and over worked. The GRA said it had decided last March to conduct some 40 interviews with members who left the organisation, a figure which equates to 20 per cent of those who have resigned in the previous 18 months. Garda management had not begun to conduct “exit interviews” with departing members of the force until May 2023, the GRA said.Vincent van Gogh’s final days: The extraordinary paintings from the artist’s last burst of creative geniusTara McManus, assistant to the general secretary of the GRA who carried out the research, said it had been difficult to listen to some of the reasons why people, especially younger officers, were leaving the force. “Their accounts, however, have provided invaluable insights into the reality of policing, particularly for our younger members who statistically, are more likely to resign,” she said. “They have described a worrying work culture where bullying, mental stress and burnout, and a sense of vulnerability are rife. They have described feeling undervalued and over worked, and overwhelmingly, describe morale as being at an all-time low within the Garda organisation” she said. “These issues must now be addressed as matter of urgency to stem the flow of experienced and qualified gardaí out of the Garda organisation,” she added. Ronan Slevin, general secretary of the GRA, said the interviews uncovered “a real disconnect between our members and senior Garda management. The Commissioner has in the past insisted that there was no issue with morale in the force, however, these testimonies speak volumes”. Brendan O’Connor, GRA president, said “experiences of bullying, unfair treatment and the fear of discipline which have been cited by those surveyed are something I’ve witnessed colleagues struggle to deal with and the effect can be very detrimental”. He said “a sense of isolation and a perception of not being supported can impact very negatively on self-confidence and mental health, which in turn affects performance and ability to function as a garda. “It is now up to Garda management to take heed of the alarm bells and warnings in this research. They must listen to the accounts from members on the ground and work with the GRA to make a career in the gardaí, one where every member feels safe, supported and valued,” he said.Man secures barring order against husband after pornographic images sent to family and friendsSupreme Court to decide if woman should be refunded €50,000 derelict site levyMick Jagger on ageing: ‘As you get older, a lot of your friends die. I don’t have any older than me’Man’s wife wouldn’t let him shower in case he was meeting someone after work, court hearsNational Lottery may still broadcast Saturday’s off-air Lotto draws
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