BILL BROWNE GARDAI throughout North Cork who are not even at the age of retirement are on 'tenter hooks' with many opting to leave the force as there is the very real fear their gratuity, built up over decades, will be taxed to the hilt to fill the nations ailing coffers in the October budget.

Local gardai have shown serious concern that a major exodus, via early retirement, of experienced, senior colleagues will leave a vacuum in local 'know-how' that will lead to an increase in crime.

The exodus of Gardai at all levels will have a detrimental effect not only on the force but the public, was the opinion of Mallow based John Parker of the Garda Representative Association for North Cork.

"Gardai at all levels are jumping ship now as no one knows what the budget in October will bring. There is complete uncertainty about what is going to happen," said Garda Parker. "The Government are keeping stum, but make no mistake this is a country is on edge. It is only a matter of time before the simmering pot boils over into social and industrial unrest and a rise in white collar crime, and with all of that will come a deluge of public order [offences]," he added.

He said in the first six months of this year, 450 Gardai nationwide left the force, though he said he knows of some who have since regretted it.

"When Gardai retire, then sergeants, inspectors and superintendents have fewer staff to manage. Positions will be extinguished and with it will go decades of expertise, which are not being replaced. What is occurring is plenty of speculation but no facts of what will happen.

"It means that Gardai are throwing in the towel now before the budget unfolds as many do not want to take the risk of what could happen to their years of service," he said.

In the Mallow, Kanturk, Fermoy and Macroom districts there has been a steady flow of Gardai retiring this year — well ahead of prevoius years — with many more considering leaving the force. In the Kanturk division, there are 41 Gardai, six sergeants, an inspector and a superintendent. One Garda is on the cusp of retiring, but a further six have the option of leaving the Force. It is understood that some may take the retirement option as the introduction of the pension levy and additional levies is quickly eroding their pay.

In Mallow four members of the Force have retired and it's expected that more will follow suit. In the Mallow District two sergeants and nine Gardai have retired since August 1 2009.

In the Macroom district three Gardai and one superintendent have retired so far this year, with at least one more more expected to leave the Force. The district has a total of 51 serving officers and covers an area that includes Macroom, Ballyvourney, Crookstown, Coachford and Inchigeela.

In the Fermoy division four Gardai and one sergeant have retired so far this year out of a total of almost 80 Gardai.

A source within the district said that concerns over issues such as pension and salary levies and pay cuts are forcing experienced Gardai to hang up their uniforms.

"These are still young men who have a wealth of experience that is being lost to the Force and which is impossible to replace. There was a time when the vast majority of Gardai would stay in the job for as long as possible, now they are getting out at the first available opportunity," he said.

"This year for example the amount of Gardai leaving the Force has already doubled on previous years and we are still only in August.

While there are new guards coming out of Templemore, they do no have the experience to replace the huge amount of local knowledge that is being lost, particularly at senior level," he added.

- MARIA HERLIHY