Meeting calls for extra garda resources

The need for extra garda resources was highlighted at the public meeting of the Dundalk Joint Policing Committee which took place in Blackrock Community Centre last week.

Garda Representative Association for Louth Gda Derek O’Donoghue told the meeting that one of the biggest concerns was regarding garda resources in the county.

He said that no Probationary gardai had come to the county since May and the next batch won’t be assigned until February, so it will be nine months before they get any new gardai.

He noted that the issue of cross border crime and Brexit had always been discussed at previous JPC meetings but hadn’t been mentioned in the report presented by Supt Gerry Curley this time.

Representatives from Blackrock had also raised the issue of garda numbers, calling for a commitment that the village would get a sergeant, while assurances were also sought that garda resources would still be available in Cooley, now that the anti-social behaviour problem in Carlingford had been resolved.

Supt Curley contended that the number of gardai stationed in Blackrock had fluctuated over the years from one sergeant and four gardai to one sergeant and two garda. There were now four gardai working in Blackrock, including an acting sergeant. He assured the meeting that he had looked for a Sergeant before Sgt Vincent O’Connell retired earlier in the year.

Dundalk had lost out to Drogheda, Cavan/Monaghan and Dublin when it came to getting extra resources. He also reported that there was now an extra member in the Community Policing unit in Dundalk, bringing it up to four.

He pledged that gardai would continue to put resources into north Louth and the border area.

There were also calls for the local Oireachtas members and councillors to work together to get extra garda resources for the Dundalk District.

Fianna Fail TD Declan Breathnach assured the meeting that they all worked collectively and on a cross-party basis. He was in regular contact with Chief Supt Christy Mangan and the other Supts and was onto the Garda Station every day. He added that the number of calls to Dundalk and Drogheda stations were four times that of the rest of the country, which speaks for itself in terms of the resources needed.