Extra gardai on beat in Carlingford

ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour in Carlingford, including the recent attack on a tall ship moored at the pier and gangs rampaging through the village at Halloween, topped the agenda when Community Alert groups from north Louth met with Garda Superintendent Gerry Curley last week.

Community Alert Groups from Cooley, Omeath, Ravensdale and Kilkerley attended the meeting and highlighted the problems affecting their areas.

They were told that two new Gardai are being assigned to Omeath from December 1st and that a garda patrol car will be assigned to Carlingford every Saturday night. Additional foot patrols have also been guaranteed on Saturday nights and all day Sundays.

The on going problem caused by an influx of visitors for stag and hen parties in Carlingford at the weekends was highlighted, with the need for the business community, especially publicans and owners of rented property to play a role in taking steps to prevent anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Mark Dearey informed the meeting that Louth County Council had written to landlords reminding them of their responsibilities but it hadn’t made any difference.

He also highlighted how the Esso garage and shop in Omeath had been ram raided on several occasions.

The point was also made that it wasn’t just visitors who were responsible for some of the incidents and the gardai are working with the community in identifying local involvement.

The news that new gardai are being assigned to Omeath, bringing the number back up to eight has been welcomed by the Cooley Community Alert Group, as was Supt Curley’s pledge that a Sergeant will be appointed to Carlingford when Sgt Jim Kilcoyne retires next month.

The Carlingford Residents Association has also welcomed the news but said ‘Ideally we would like to see Carlingford Garda Station manned full time. The Garda Commissioner recently indicated that reopening of stations would be considered where a need could be shown.’

They noted that the Louth Policing Plan 2019 is currently being put together and submissions have been invited by the Divisional Superintendent’s office in Drogheda. ‘People should take this opportunity to influence Garda priorities.’

‘We would also like to see roll out as soon as possible of Louth County Council’s Intoxicating Liquor Bye-Laws, adopted some months ago. This will require new signage and Garda enforcement. Carlingford was identified as a priority area for this at the recent public session of the Joint Policing Forum, held in Carlingford, which was very well attended.’

It was also pointed out at the meeting that people were calling out of date numbers when trying to contact the gardai and that they should call 042 9388440.