Although John Sweetman served almost four years as a Garda, he never really felt like he belonged until he was involved in a violent case that led him to the Garda Technical Bureau. In his new role, Sweetman discovered his genuine passion and spent the next 25 years specialising in forensic analysis of fingerprints, documents and handwriting.
Sweetman confessed that he struggled with self-confidence, finding it challenging to maintain the professional detachment expected of his role. He openly speaks about his life-long battle with depression, which regularly led to self-harm and eventually compelled him to take early retirement.
Sweetman’s illuminating narrative provides a seldom-seen perspective of life within the police force, revealing their internal jargon and the demands of the job. He was sharp in identifying the necessity for police officers to adapt, to switch from a relaxed approach to one ready for any possible scenario. His candid storytelling occasionally took a morbid turn, as demonstrated by his casual commentary on discovering pets with a deceased owner.
Sweetman offers thorough descriptions of the precise techniques used in forensic examinations and recalls infamous crime scenes that he worked on, including the murder of Gary Douch in 2006 and Bobby Ryan, a part-time DJ known as Mr Moonlight, in 2011. He paints a vivid contrast between his thrill when a fingerprint match led to a conviction and his inherent frustration with the extensive paperwork involved in policing. He also shows scepticism towards court proceedings, believing that only the lawyers and habitual criminals benefit.
Sweetman felt stifled in a profession dominated by rules and procedures, and his resultant rebelliousness manifested through growing a beard and getting tattoos. He resented the continuous addition of regulations, arguing that his job became more about strict compliance with forms than effective law enforcement. He felt strongly that the increased bureaucracy adversely affected the effectiveness of the forensic departments, leading to a backlog of cases.
Sweetman’s story offers an introspective look at the pros and cons of working in the police force, providing an insightful, though not always flattering, overview of the national law enforcement system.