Thelma Watters, Garda Inspector

Thelma Watters started taking Business Studies at college and she worked briefly in Human Resource Management, but it was not for her. Instead she applied for An Garda Síochána, and started her first post in Limerick city in 2001. From there, she moved her way up through the ranks. She quickly joined the Detective Unit, investigating gangland crime. By 2016 Thelma was promoted to Garda Inspector, and is now attached to the Blanchardstown Garda district in Dublin. In work she has helped people through their toughest, darkest days. Though she has seen pretty much everything, she doesn’t let it harden her. A working mother of three children, she doesn’t have much time left for hobbies, but she always makes the most of family time. Her parents’ hard work and dedication to managing a family developed Thelma’s wish to help people from a young age. Making a change to somebody’s circumstances doesn’t always have to come from frontline services. Even a small contribution can make a massive impact on someone’s life.

The first women joined An Garda Siochána in 1959 and today over 26% of gardaí are women; the numbers of inspectors, superintendents and sergeants have doubled since 2006. The UK has a similar percentage of women officers, 29%, but the US now falls well behind with under 12%.

Photo: Beta Bajgart