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A young man who underwent laser eye surgery in order to pass the Garda medical exam has been left devastated after he was rejected – more than two years after first applying.
Jack Clifford said the entire process has left him incredibly frustrated and said he’s now stuck paying back a loan of thousands of euro for an operation he didn’t really need.
The 23-year-old was flying through all the stages of the recruitment process, but realised he would fail the medical exam because his level of vision was slightly off.
Since the Limerick man had passed all the other stages, he decided to undergo laser eye surgery and took out a five-year loan, which he didn’t mind doing because he knew he would be able to pay it off once he became a Garda.
Garda bosses confirmed Jack passed the medical exams but the young man said he was strung along for months before eventually being told in January he had been unsuccessful – but no exact reason was given as to why.
Speaking to the Irish Sunday Mirror, he said: “If I could go back in time I would stay the hell away from it.
“The Guards may come on social media acting like they want Guards and it’s an easy-to-get-through process, but as soon as you begin that recruitment process you are just treated as a number and nothing else.”
He fumed: “The part that hurts most is I must have spent more than €4,500 on this , from the laser eye surgery, purchasing glasses and paying for both eye tests.
“I informed the Sergeant, Superintendent and Chief Superintendent of my decision to purchase the laser eye surgery weeks prior in all separate meetings and as the surgery was the final part of the process, I would have appreciated if at least one of them would have told me if there was any issues instead of letting me throw away thousands on surgery I didn’t even need.
“That just shows how little respect they have for applicants. My optician told me I only need surgery if I’m going for the Guards because my eyesight was borderline.”
Jack said he can’t fathom any reason as to why he was rejected from the force – with subsequent appeals of that decision also failing.
He added: “I’ve dreamt of being a Garda since I was four years of age… people often say to me that I’m a natural guard without the uniform. It’s just the way I think.
“I know if I was to get into the job, I would do a good job. I have absolutely no respect whatsoever for Garda management and human resources over what has happened.”
Jack also said he wouldn’t recommend anybody else to apply after his own experience, which saw his life end up on “hold” for two years.
He added: “My brother has told me that he wouldn’t mind joining but after seeing first hand what I was put through he will not be following that career path anymore.”
A Garda spokesperson said: “The recruitment process for An Garda Síochána is highly competitive, with candidates undergoing rigorous assessments, including medical and physical competency tests, drug testing, vetting, and interviewing to ensure they meet the required standards.
“While not every applicant secures a position, those who are unsuccessful are encouraged to consider future opportunities and further development that may enhance their chances in subsequent recruitment cycles.”
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