'We will miss his friendly presence,' Tipperary gardaí pay tribute to intern

'Very best of luck Nicholas Ryan-Purcell in your new Garda staff position and thank you for the last nine months.'

placeholder image — 'Very best of luck Nicholas Ryan-Purcell in your new Garda staff position and thank you for the last nine months.'

Nicholas Ryan-Purcell joined gardaí at Thurles Garda Station nine months ago as their first-ever Garda Intern.

In a post on Friday, Tipperary gardaí on Facebook said: "It is bittersweet day as he leaves us having been successful in the Clerical Officer competition for Interns and begins his C.O. probation at the Garda College in Templemore on Monday.

"We will miss his friendly, enthusiastic and energetic presence around the station, but he isn’t gone too far.

"Very best of luck Nicholas in your new Garda staff position and thank you for the last nine months.

"Garda Internship is a programme for anyone who wishes to get a flavour of the wide range of work we undertake before making the decision to formally begin the recruitment process."