A Garda yesterday.
Recent studies seem to suggest that Gardai, both individually and collectively, don't have any sense of humour. However, according to a prominent member of the force, nothing could be further from the truth.
Garda sergeant Sean Bacon (pictured above), of Cootehill station, who has won The Funniest Garda in Ireland Award for the last 3 years said, "Shure Guards are always havin' the craic. A Guard loves a good laugh just as much as the next man, so long as the next man isn't Tommy Tiernan!, ha ha".
A recent academic study, conducted by debunked conspiracy theorist Dolores Cahill, seemed to suggest that Gardai had very low levels of humour. The study, which measured humour as a percentage of total personality, showed the average constable registering between 0 - 0.1% humour compared to a national average of 70 - 80%.
"Shure I wouldn't listen to that wan, she's a feckin' whack job", said sergeant Bacon. "Shure she doesn't even wear a mask, though she could do with one with a face like hers, ha ha".
Asked to relate his favourite joke, sergeant Bacon was more than happy to oblige. "Why are Guards funny?", he asked. "Because if ye annoy us, we'll have ye in stitches!".