Hello,

I am a phase 3 student in the Garda College in Templemore and we were recently given a talk by one of your volunteers...a retired Garda Inspector. This was by far the best talk I have received, not only in the 12 weeks of phase 3 but since I started my training on August 5th 2008. This is the general consensus of many people in my intake who I asked about this. Women's aid, although a valid and worthwhile talk, had us for FOUR hours whereas this gentleman only had us for FIFTY minutes. In that fifty minutes he gave us an honest, interesting and very worthwhile talk. If women's aid had been the same length and had better speakers perhaps the talk would have been more positively received by the students.

The gentleman who spoke to us that day was the bravest man I have come across in quite a while. I have rarely seen a classroom so quiet while a speaker gave his presentation. The fact that he sat where we were sitting 30 odd years ago did go somewhat towards the respect he got from the students during the presentation however a lot was down to his natural ability to captivate his audience through being completely honest and very relevant.

Keep up the good work sir, that's all I can say.

Very very worthwhile talk. Everything happens for a reason and although you went through some very harrowing experiences, perhaps it took those experiences for you to be able to stand in front of us that day, and in front of many other groups, and highlight the plight of many men stuck in abusive relationships.

Well done and never stop what you're doing. If the Garda College had more people like you talking to us in phase 3 it would be a more well spent 12 weeks.