Worried residents demand more gardaí in Cahersiveen

RESIDENTS living in the Iveragh Peninsula are calling for a crackdown on anti-social behaviour and extra gardaí to be deployed to the area in light of a number of serious incidents.

The latest incident occurred late on Friday night last when four gardaí were injured during a car chase from Cahersiveen to Caherdaniel. The gardaí had responded to a call about criminal damage in Cahersiveen town and had attempted to halt the suspects who fled the area heading to Waterville and Caherdaniel where they evaded the gardaí.

During the pursuit the two patrol cars were rammed and four garda were injured. The injured gardaí are now off work and their absence comes as local residents demand more garda resources for the region which has experienced a huge loss of manpower in recent years.

This incident has once again drawn attention to the ongoing problem of anti-social behaviour in the region and comes just days after the fatal stabbing of a 33-year old man in Cahersiveen in an incident that has shocked the local community.

Locals this week contacted elected representatives, Kerry County Council officials and gardaí appealing for immediate action.

“We feel we are being ignored. We want our local councillors to call a meeting and help us. People are very mad and upset,” said former chairperson of the now defunct Fertha Drive Residents Association, Sheila O’Donoghue.

“There is a lack of a garda presence because of the closure of rural garda stations and as a result those engaged in anti-social behaviour are running riot,” she said.

RESIDENTS who claim antisocial behaviour and drug abuse are causing havoc across South Kerry, are demanding a public meeting to highlight their concerns.

Their calls come following a serious incident late on Friday night that led to a car chase across the southern Iveragh peninsula after a report of criminal damage in Cahersiveen. The culprits fled to Waterville and on to Caherdaniel with garda giving chase.

This incident, in which four gardaí were injured, came just days after the fatal stabbing of a 33-year old man in Cahersiveen. A man has since been charged with murder in relation to that incident.

The shocking nature of the stabbing, the first of its kind in Cahersiveen, has shocked and upset the town and it has also drawn attention to the lack of gardai on the Iveragh peninsula.

While there is a 24-hour garda car in the region, the station is not open full-time and garda numbers have been greatly reduced in recent years. Cahersiveen once had a superintendent, two sergeants and up to 30 gardaí but now there is only one sergeant and less than 20 gardaí. Ironically, one of two sergeants based in the town was transferred to Killarney just hours before last week’s stabbing.

The reduction in garda numbers has been strongly criticised by local residents who are deeply concerned about anti-social behaviour in Cahersiveen. They have now contacted all local councillors in the Iveragh Peninsula asking them to organise a public meeting so that their concerns can be heard.

“The closure of rural garda stations has had a knock-on effect of antisocial behaviour as the culprits are running riot. We are now putting pressure on our local councillors to hold this meeting as we don’t want anyone being targeted here. It is up to our elected representatives to have this meeting,” said former chairperson of the now defunct Fertha Drive Residents Association in Cahersiveen, Shelia O’Donoghue.

“This is not about one place or one incident but something has to be done. This is an extremely big issue.”

Cllr Norma Moriarty said this week that something had to be done in light of the situation in the town.

“We need more gardaí. Where there is serious crime extra resources are needed,” she said. “Given the peripherality of the town and the peninsula and the geographical make-up of the region, garda numbers need to be increased. This is about security and quality of life and to allow gardaí to do their work.”

The issue was raised by Cllr Moriarty two days after last week’s killing with Killarney Superintendent Flor Murphy. She said that she is calling for a definite timeframe for increasing gardaí numbers in the area.

Supt Murphy said anti-social behaviour is being dealt with as evidenced by court cases. He added that the sergeant who has been tranferred will be replaced in two to three months and that he will look at deploying extra gardaí.

“I would love extra resources but my resources are not unlimited and I have competing priorities. The station was downgraded before I got there. I will review the situation,” he said.