Are there any guards with criminal records all be they misdermeanours?

runswithascript

Not to suggest criminal damamge and the carrying of a concealed weapon is a misdermeanour but...

A friend of mine whose 28 has a PhD in Computer Science which his attained from TCD, he speaks three languages, Arabic, Farsi and French, he's highly fit, trained in kickboxing and is well graced with Irish history and the law but now finds himself yet again wanting to Join An Garda Sciocána as he did many years ago but he didn't bother to apply because when he was very drunk one night under the influence of drugs he was arrested and charged with criminal damage for kicking in one door of an Esat phonebox and the carrying of a concealed weapon, not a gun but a knife.

I didn't know this guy at the time he commited his crimes but I know him now and let me tell you it is totally out of his character - he really wants to be a Guard - should he bother applying?

Say he gets the okay to train with them on a provisional basis would they weed him out over his past?

He never went to prison but the judge aware of his prospects handed down a suspended sentence of 6 months on a bond of three years.

Would he have any chance of becoming a guard, and if so would he be able to use his PhD in computer science while working as a guard?

Also I've just been told by a member of his family he's a member of Mensa which means he's in the top 3% of IQs in the world.

Surely this guy has something to offer the state whom all he wants to do is protect?

johnnyskeleton

There have been a few occasions where Gardai have been convicted, but I think they are usually suspended/asked to retire afterwards.

dusf wrote:

should he bother applying?

Well if he doesn't he will never know.

dusf wrote:

Say he gets the okay to train with them on a provisional basis would they weed him out over his past?

I would imagine he will be asked upfront whether he has any previous criminal convictions, and if he lies and is found out he will almost certainly be kicked out - not for the criminal offence but for lying.

dusf wrote:

He never went to prison but the judge aware of his prospects handed down a suspended sentence of 6 months on a bond of three years.

Still a criminal conviction. See this page for futher information on recruitment - there is a requirement of good character.

dusf wrote:

Would he have any chance of becoming a guard, and if so would he be able to use his PhD in computer science while working as a guard?

The only people that could give him a definitive answer are the Gardai themselves. I wouldn't fancy his chances. It is more likely (or rather less unlikely) that he could get a job as a Garda support agent (see here) but again, the only people who can answer this definitively are the public appointments service. If you want to know whether he would have grounds for an equality action or judicial review if he was rejected, I would say his chances are very bad.

It's a pity, because I imagine that the Gardai need more competent and qualified computer users, especially in the technical bureau. Computer fraud and child pornography need more people investigating them, IMO.

dusf wrote:

Also I've just been told by a member of his family he's a member of Mensa which means he's in the top 3% of IQs in the world.

Good for him, but I don't think it matters much. Some people would be impressed, others (like me) would know that anyone prepared to pay the subscription and who can do reasonably well in an IQ test can get into mensa, but I would think the most common reaction would be "well, look at mr. intellectual snob here". IMO, his linguistic and educational skills speak for themselves.

dusf wrote:

Surely this guy has something to offer the state whom all he wants to do is protect?

Fair enough, he could try applying or try for a civilian post. But I must stress to you that carrying a knife and criminal damage while under the influence of drugs does not sound very good, and could be seen as quite a serious offence. Were he convicted, for example, of driving while using a mobile phone, the Gardai might look the other way.

But what you have outlined is reasonalby serious, and even though his sentence was suspended, the offence was serious enough to warrant a prison sentence.

runswithascript

He had hoped that his tine in Iran, Rhodesia [sic] and his learning of middle eastern languages would have opened some doors for the him with security services in this country or abroard like the UK and America but he's sure if he becomes a recruit of MI5, he would be taken because we used to be a part of the British Empire/Commonweth. His convinced they'd send him up north to be an informant. Also, the NSA and CIA will only process applicatns who have fullcitizenship wich he could earn by four years in the USMC stuck between Iran and Arock. Your thougs are appreciated.

johnnyskeleton

I'm not sure that he would even get in to America with a criminal record, nevermind into the CIA or NSA.

jhegarty

dusf wrote:

He had hoped that his tine in Iran, Rhodesia [sic] and his learning of middle eastern languages would have opened some doors for the him with security services in this country or abroard like the UK and America but he's sure if he becomes a recruit of MI5, he would be taken because we used to be a part of the British Empire/Commonweth. His convinced they'd send him up north to be an informant. Also, the NSA and CIA will only process applicatns who have fullcitizenship wich he could earn by four years in the USMC stuck between Iran and Arock. Your thougs are appreciated.

Anyone who is thinking of serving 4 years fighting a war becuase they might get a job (and I don't see how he stands out here) is mad :eek: