Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for The Garda Podcast
Society & Culture

The Garda Podcast

An Garda Síochána

The Garda Podcast is an official An Garda Síochána podcast. The Garda Podcast includes interviews and behind the scenes features from across An Garda Síochána, Ireland's national police and security service.

Play
Open in
  • 21 episodes
  • monthly
  • Avg 27 min
  • English

Episodes 21

NewestOldestLongest
All20Unplayed20In progress0Played0
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • September 25 · 32 min

    EP39: Human Trafficking

    Human Trafficking involves the recruitment, movement, harbouring or receiving of a person through means such as fear, fraud and deception, coercion, force or the abuse of power or a position of vulnerability, for the purpose of their sexual or labour exploitation, forced criminality or the removal of the organs of a person. In this episode, Detective Chief Superintendent Thelma Watters from the Garda National Protective Services Bureau details An Garda Síochána's relentless approach to tackling this heinous crime and how you can help.

  • September 8 · 10 min

    Episode spotlight: Transporting VIPs

    Ireland holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union this year - 2026. During this period, many significant meetings are taking place nationwide, attended by VIPs. In order to get these VIPs safely and efficiently to their destination, the Garda National Escort Unit provides motorcycle escorts. Our National Escort Unit consists of highly skilled Garda motorcyclists who provide these escorts for various reasons, including for the transport of VIPs and critically ill patents. In this episode, you'll go inside this specialist unit and hear about their training, more about who they escort and why.

  • S2 · E38
    July 9 · 44 min

    EP38: Visual evidence: In focus with the Garda Photography Section

    The Garda Photographic Section, attached to the Garda National Technical Bureau, recently marked 100 years in operation. Garda photographers in the section go to crime scenes which include suspicious deaths and meticulously photograph evidence to assist investigation teams. In this episode, photographer Detective Garda Ian Redican gives a fascinating insight into the section, takes us inside a scene call out, talks us through his kit bag, provides a history of Garda photography and much more.

  • June 5 · 19 min

    EP37: Drug Related Intimidation

    Drug Related Intimidation occurs when a criminal orcriminals allege that a sum of money is owed as a result of a drug debt. Individuals or other family members may be subjected to intimidation or the threat of intimidation. Intimidation can take many forms, including: threats of physical violence, physical violence, verbal threats, sexual violence, threats of a sexual nature, damage to property and various other forms of violence. In this episode, Detective Superintendent Sé McCormack who is attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) talks about cases that An Garda Síochána deals with and the supports available to victims.

  • June 2 · 24 min

    Repost: Life in the Garda College

    An Garda Síochána will be recruiting for Garda Trainees again soon. In this podcast, Patrice was joined by Sergeant Andrew Geary who was attached to Foundation Training in the Garda College at the time of recording. In this episode, you'll find out what life is like for Garda Trainees during their Foundation Training Programme and what it takes to become a member of An Garda Síochána.

  • S2 · E43
    May 15 · 52 min

    EP36: Domestic abuse: The signs and support

    Detective Sergeant Laura Sweeney is attached to An Garda Síochána’s National Domestic Abuse Unit. In this episode, Laura talks about the signs of domestic abuse and the supports available. If you need help or are in immediate danger or require Gardaí, dial 999 or 112. If you think you are a victim of domestic abuse or know someone who may be, you can visit this link for more information. This episode features discussions about suicide and self-harm. If you have been affected by anything you heard, you can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or Pieta on 1800 247 247.

  • April 24 · 6 min

    Video episode: Operation Shamrock

    Recently, our Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and other national units took part in Europol's 'Allies 2026', a training exercise designed to enhance cross-border cooperation and interoperability among European law enforcement authorities. The exercise simulated scenarios unfolding across 12 European countries in parallel, testing participants’ ability to effectively fight drug trafficking and hybrid threats. We played a major role in the ‘Operation Shamrock’ scenario, which involved working with European partners to track and monitor and apprehend the movements of individuals acting as International drugs smugglers.

  • S2 · E41
    April 1 · 26 min

    EP35: Tackling rural crime

    Superintendent Michael Corbett has been appointed as An Garda Síochána's Rural Crime Lead. In this podcast, Superintendent Corbett offers crime prevention advice to those living in rural Ireland and also talks in detail about topics such as: trespassing, illegal hunting and more.

  • March 2 · 46 min

    EP34: Community Policing in Cork

    Community Policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána. All around the country, community policing units work in partnership with local residents, business owners and agencies, to prevent crime and enhance public safety. Community policing units are embedded in local communities. They are often the face of An Garda Síochána and are known on a first name basis in the localities that they work. They support local initiatives and attend local meetings, all while continuing regular Garda duties to keep people safe. The Garda Podcast spent the day with two community policing Gardaí based in the Bridewell Garda Station in Cork City.

  • S2 · E39
    February 2 · 37 min

    EP33: On patrol with roads policing

    Come with us on patrol with Cavan Roads Policing for this episode of the Garda Podcast. Sergeant James Gallagher and Garda Amanda Gilmartin take us on a ride along as they help to keep our roads safe.

  • S2 · E33
    January 16 · 31 min

    EP32: Inside the Special Detective Unit

    The SDU (Special Detective Unit) is our Counter Terrorism Unit with responsibility for State security. This highly trained unit mitigate and investigate any threats to the State. The SDU also has responsibility for the protection of diplomatic missions to Ireland. In this episode of the Garda Podcast, Detective Chief Superintendent Brian Woods gives a behind the scenes insight in to this fascinating unit. Detective Chief Superintendent Woods started his career with An Garda Síochána in Ballyfermot, Dublin where he rose to the rank of Detective and worked on the Veronica Guerin case. He then spent time with the United Nations in Cyprus, the Garda Economic Crime Bureau, the Criminal Assets Bureau, Security Intelligence, projects around proactive policing, the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and now SDU. Topics discussed: History of the SDU, radicalisation, Hostile State Actors, State Security, Counter Terrorism and more.

  • S2 · E33
    Dec 28, 2025 · 12 min

    2025 rewind - Video episode about the interdiction of the MV Matthew

    One of the most popular Garda Podcasts of 2025 tells the story about the interdiction of the MV Matthew. This special video episode is produced by An Garda Síochána's Office of Corporate Communications. On September 23 2023, a Panama flagged cargo ship called the MV Mathew entered Irish territorial waters, having set off from Curacao, an island off the coast of Venezuela. Unbeknownst to its crew, suspicions about the ship’s activities had been communicated by international intelligence agencies to An Garda Síochána’s Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. The ship was being monitored, with the belief that its cargo may contain illegal drugs. On September 22nd, the day before the MV Matthew entered Irish waters, two men, bought a fishing trawler called the FV Castlemore in West Cork. The activities of the crews on board both vessels would result in a dramatic joint task force operation carried out at sea in gale force winds and would lead to the largest drug seizure in the history of the State. The seizure of devices and the interception of messages between both sea fairing crews and their criminal gang members on land, led to the conviction and sentencing of eight men – six from the MV Matthew and two from the Castlemore trawler. The radio and phone conversations you hear in this podcast are real.

  • S2 · E31
    Nov 15, 2025 · 34 min

    EP31: The Garda National Immigration Bureau

    The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) enforces immigration legislation in Ireland. In this episode, Detective Chief Superintendent of GNIB Aidan Minnock brings us behind the scenes of this busy and specialist bureau. This interview took place in mid-November 2025. Some statistics mentioned in the episodes will have changed at the time of listening.

  • S2 · E30
    Oct 11, 2025 · 36 min

    EP30: Forensic Collision Investigation

    Garda Forensic Collision Investigators (FCIs) are deployed in the immediate aftermath of fatal or life altering road traffic collisions. They are trained to forensically reconstruct a road traffic collision. In this episode, FCI Sergeant Paddy McElroy discusses this important role in detail.

  • S2 · E32
    Oct 6, 2025 · 24 min

    Special live event: The Garda National Youth Awards

    The annual Garda National Youth Awards celebrate outstanding young people aged between 13 and 21 years, and recognises the good work they are doing throughout their communities. The awards, held in Portlaoise, gives An Garda Síochána a valuable chance to truly recognise the remarkable influence young people have on their communities. In this episode, you’ll hear from some of the 2025 winners. This podcast contains some discussion about suicide and self harm. If you are affected by anything you hear in the episode, you can call Samaritans on 116123, Pieta House on 1800247247 or in the case of an emergency, please call 999 or 112.

  • S2 · E29
    Sep 19, 2025 · 24 min

    EP 29: Becoming a Garda - Part two

    In episode 21, we spoke with four Garda Trainees who had just entered the Garda College in Templemore. Six months later, they join us for this episode of the Garda Podcast straight after their attestation (graduation) where they became sworn members of An Garda Síochána. If you are interested in following in the footsteps of the Gardaí you hear in this podcast, you can apply to be a Garda in the latest Garda recruitment competition which is open on publicjobs.ie

  • S2 · E28
    Aug 29, 2025 · 30 min

    EP28: Garda Commissioner Drew Harris

    Garda Commissioner Drew Harris took up the role of Commissioner of An Garda Síochána in 2018. After seven years of leading the organisation, he will now retire from the position, and from his almost 42 year policing career. In this episode, Commissioner Harris reflects on his seven years with An Garda Síochána. Some topics discussed in this episode include: -Proudest achievements as Commissioner -Challenges from the past seven years -Changes in policing over the years -The future of policing -Leadership -Policing cybercrime -Domestic, sexual and gender based violence -Targeting organised crime groups -Targeting transnational crime - Remembering those who died in service -What makes An Garda Síochána unique -Why join a career in policing

  • Aug 19, 2025 · 5 min

    Highlight: Protecting ourselves against cybercrime

    This highlight is taken from Episode 6: The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau. Detective Chief Superintendent Barry Walsh gives some useful advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of cybercrime.

  • S2 · E27
    Jul 5, 2025 · 20 min

    EP27: Inside the MV Matthew operation - Ireland's largest drug seizure

    In this episode, Detective Superintendent Joe O’Reilly of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau takes us behind the MV Matthew operation. The previous Garda Podcast episode - EP 26, outlines the timeline of the MV Matthew interdiction and subsequent conviction of eight men. Background: On September 23 2023, a Panama flagged cargo ship called the MV Mathew entered Irish territorial waters, having set off from Curacao, an island off the coast of Venezuela. Unbeknownst to its crew, suspicions about the ship’s activities had been communicated by international intelligence agencies to An Garda Síochána’s Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. The ship was being monitored, with the belief that its cargo may contain illegal drugs. On September 22nd, the day before the MV Matthew entered Irish waters, two men, bought a fishing trawler called the FV Castlemore in West Cork. The activities of the crews on board both vessels would result in a dramatic joint task force operation carried out at sea in gale force winds and would lead to the largest drug seizure in the history of the State. The seizure of devices and the interception of messages between both sea fairing crews and their criminal gang members on land, led to the conviction and sentencing of eight men – six from the MV Matthew and two from the Castlemore trawler.

Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes