Volunteers guard cars during Mass to tackle crime
PATROL SET UP TO PROTECT CARS IN LYREACROMPANE
MORE front-line gardaí and rural patrols, as outlined in the new nation-wide policing plan, are vital going forward so that rural communities can feel safe, according to Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae.
He cited Lyreacrompane as an example of a community that was forced to take the safety of the locality into its own hands after a number of cars were broken into during Mass.
Such was the upset in Lyreacrompane following the burglaries that the local community development group set up a weekly rota of volunteers to guard the car park outside the Church during Mass.
While the burglaries date back a number of years, the local community continues to patrol Mass every single Sunday.
The rota of volunteers also comes into action during the Funerals in the local parish.
“It is sad that we have to do this, but we have a wonderful community here in Lyreacrompane that have come together,” explained the secretary of Lyreacrompane Community Development, Breda Keane.
There are between 10 and 15 volunteers on the rota, and each Sunday one of those does not attend Mass and instead sits in a car outside to watch for suspicious activity.
The initiative has been hugely successful, and the volunteers have noted suspicious activity in the area and have passed over license plate to gardaí to assist them in their investigations.
“We are so grateful for all the volunteers who oblige us and help out,” Ms Keane.
“It is sad that we have to do this but we have adapted and have come together to help the community.
“There are opportunistic people out there that will steal valuables,” she said.
Cllr Healy Rae told the Joint Policing Commmitee this week that communities did not feel secure following the closure of local stations.
He told The Kerryman this week that it was ‘crazy’ that old people could go to Mass and have their valuables stolen.