The Government yesterday abolished the height requirement for admission to the Garda Siochana on the recommendation of the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, writes Jim Cusack, Security Editor.
The former requirement that a male officer be over five feet, nine inches and a female officer over five feet, five inches is now replaced by a physical competence test which will be taken by all entrants to the Garda College in Templemore.
The removal of the height restrictions follows similar moves by other forces throughout the EU.
The Minister removed the restriction on the grounds that it was "regressive and inequitable" and, effectively, barred membership of the force to highly competent applicants.
