Defence Forces security checks must be up to sratch

DUNDALK is not shy of showing colours.

The town is decked out in flags these days with Dundalk FC flags still flapping in the wind following the last three seasons of wonderful tiumphs.

However the GAA are catching up fast with both Clan na Gael’s green and gold and Dundalk Gaels blue and white flags marking their territory around the town.

Clan na Gael didn’t win their Intermediate Championship decider last Sunday against O’Connells, but Dundalk Gaels hopes are high of landing their first title in 65 years, some 25 years after their last final appearance.

Hopefully it will be a double for Dundalk and Dundalk Gaels this week in their two big ties. IT was hard to comprehend what we heard on the news headlines on Monday morning and read in our newspapers over the weekend.

The Defence Forces are in recruitment mode but they are getting it difficult to get the core number up from 9,000 to 9,500 serving members across the Army, Navy and Air Corps.

However what really was incredulous was that new recruits commence combat training before they have completed their security clearance.

Apparently the current extent of the security checks is a google search, with delays to the Garda security vetting process.

It is scarcely believable that we could have recruits entering basic and combat training without the completion of their security clearance.

We have a history of subversive activity in this State and this threat remains to a lesser extent today, while criminal gangs are already lethal enough without having the benefit of State organised combat training.

This problem must be corrected, without delay and no recruits should enter training without being properly vetted.

Isis might not be a real and present danger in Ireland that they are in other parts of Europe but can you imagine the national embarrassment if Isis terrorists trained with the Irish Defence Forces.

You cannot future proof against the future actions of any individual but at least if the proper security checks have been carried out there is some safeguard.