Policing concerns in west Sligo to be addressed at JPC meeting in light of recent burglaries
BASED on those concerns and against the backdrop of break-ins on Saturday in Beltra and Ballisodare, Cllr Mulvey will raise the issues with Sligo’s senior garda, Chief Supt Aidan Glacken, at a meeting of the Sligo Joint Policing Committee tomorrow (Friday).
Cllr Mulvey told the Sligo Weekender he shared concerns expressed by people living in west Sligo where a serious assault on Mr Niland occurred and they had now experienced two local burglaries in one afternoon.
For that reason, he was raising their fears at the highest level available to him at tomorrow’s JPC meeting.
“The local community are looking for assurances, they want the garda replaced in Skreen and it is imperative that Skreen Garda Station remains open,” he said.
“People are keen to see the garda who retired, John McGuinness, replaced.
“Against the background of a serious incident here in January, the attack on Tom Niland, the local community is aware of the importance and need to have gardaí on the ground here,” he said.
“We know there are demands from every area for garda resources, but there is a concern here that the garda resources we had must be maintained, and I await with interest news on when the retiring garda will be replaced,” he said.
Fellow councillor Michael Clarke, has also raised the issue of replacing Garda McGuinness, pointing out that the area where the retiring garda served was the scene of a brutal attack on a local pensioner.
Meanwhile, gardaí have appealed for the public’s help in relation to last weekend’s thefts in Beltra and Ballisodare.
A substantial amount of money and jewellery is understood to have been taken from an unoccupied house in the Beltra area. The break-in occurred between 3.30pm and midnight on Saturday last.
Another burglary took place also on Saturday evening in the Ballisodare area. The house that was broken into was also unoccupied at the time. No arrests have been made and garda investigations into both incidents are continuing.
Gardaí are appealing for anybody with information or dash cam footage from the areas to contact Sligo Garda Station on 071 91157000.