A Tallaght man, 29 year old Joe Connolly was interviewed on the first episode of “Garda Down Under”, a new RTÉ show
Mr Connolly states that he left Ireland to work in the Western Australian police force after experiencing abuse and death threats at a protest outside the Dáil.
The six part series shows the lives of ex-Gardai adapting to both life in Australia and working for the largest police district in the world.
Joe Connolly spoke of the ordeal that caused to him uproot his life and head abroad.
“I was spat at. I was threatened that a brick would be thrown in my face and under the Haddington Road Agreement I had been working for free, basically. I was doing a 10 hour shift for absolutely nothing”
He stated that getting a job in Australia was something he wasn’t “going to let pass by”.
Since 2005, Joe is one of 30 Gardaí to have emigrated to Australia.
The Western Australian Police force began to actively recruit Irish Gardaí as they are regarded as highly trained.
The police are stationed from Perth all the way to the remote north.
Police are expected to act as temporary paramedics and forensic investigators.
However, Australia is a huge land mass and this can sometimes have an affect on the solving of crimes.
This series is narrated by Kathryn Thomas, and follows the Irish recruits as they adapt to a new life thousands of kilometres from home.
The first episode of Garda Down Under airs tonight, Wednesday the 2nd of September at 8:30pm.