‘WE’RE HERE TO HELP EVERYONE’

IN times of crisis everyone pulls together to help each other and An Garda Siochána are going above and beyond the call of duty to help the public out during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a bid to ensure not only the safety and security of the county, garda policing teams have been set up to visit the vulnerable and elderly across Kerry and to help them with shopping, prescriptions or any other assistance they may need. The new scheme launched last week will see a community policing response team, in keeping with the forces traditional community policing unit, in each area - Tralee, Listowel and Killarney. Two uniformed gardaí will cover the shift and each day they will identify a specific area in their locality and cover this area helping all those that need help. This will include rural areas across South Kerry and the same in both Tralee and North Kerry.

“For example in Tralee it could be Curraheen or Churchill. We will select different areas and it will be a wide geographical spread,” explained Sgt Eileen O’Sullivan. New vans clearly marked with the garda logo have been acquired and they will be used to deliver what people need.

“We are there to help those most in need. People are genuinely scared in these times and we want to help,” said Sgt O’Sullivan.

The presence and assistance of local garda teams aims to alleviate worry and concern in the current climate. Some of Kerry’s newest garda recruits have been drafted into help in the new units. Local communities will be contacted via the Community Text Alert Scheme, where these exist, that gardaí are to visit their area and anyone in need of assistance can then contact the station. The public are also being urged to contact their local station if they know of some-one who is vulnerable. Muintir na Tire area also assisting in identifying those in need.

Social distancing requirements will be met at all times to ensure the safety of the most vulnerable.

Sgt O’Sullivan said that there is great community spirit across the county and that local volunteers are out in force helping. The Garda teams are an added addition to help the most vulnerable. Tralee Station can be contacted on (066) 710 2300, Killarney Garda Station on 0646671160 or Listowel Garda Station on 068 50820.

LEFT: Joe Hanley Photo by Photo by Domnick Walsh Garda Mary Gardiner and Garda Eilish Cronin come to the help of the local residents to collect their medicines and groceries on Thursday from Ellie Stuart from O’Connell’s Pharmacy, Brendan’s Park, and also collecting her medicine Catherine Command. RIGHT: Garda Mary Gardiner of Tralee Garda Station stops to talk to 91-yearold Eileen Nolan from Tralee.

Photo by Domnick Walsh Members of the Community Policing Covid-19 Response Team set up to assist the vulnerable and elderly. Pictured in Tralee (from left) are Garda Mary Gardiner, Garda Bryan English , Garda Sgt Eileen O’Sullivan and Garda Inspector Tony Sugrue . Gardaí are available to help residents during the crisis.

Photo by Domnick Walsh Garda Mary Gardiner based at Tralee Garda Station, on her way with shopping bags to help locals who can’t make it to the shop as part of the Community Policing Response Team. Here Mary stops to talk to Brid White, Corelia O’Shea and Prince the dog from Tralee .

Photo by Domnick Walsh Garda Mary Gardiner on her way with shopping bags to help locals who can’t make it to the shops. Here Mary stops to talk to Phyllis McLaughlin from Tralee.

Photo by Domnick Walsh On his first day on the job, Killarney man Garda Bryan English based at Tralee Garda Station brings shopping to Annette O’Sullivan from Tralee.