Just three gardaí but population can hit 30,000
IN the mid-1990s, Courtown, Co. Wexford, had three gardaí and one sergeant policing a population of approximately 450.
Today, the pretty seaside village has three gardaí and a sergeant, who splits her time between Courtown and the nearby town of Gorey, policing a population of more than 6,000.
Twenty years ago, the resort
would also get two or three additional gardaí during busy periods. Now, despite the population rising to between 20,000 and 30,000 during peak season, the village is afforded no extra gardaí. Labour party councillor Bobby Ireton told the Irish Mail on Sunday:
‘There are three gardaí and a sergeant but she should be permanently here.
‘During the summer when the population rises to between 20,000 and 30,000, the village relies on backup from Gorey to police it.
‘Back when Courtown was running at its best, 15 or 20 years ago, you could have six or seven gardaí, plus the backup from Gorey during the summer when the population would rise to about 20,000.’
The Labour councillor is trying to organise a special task force for the area.
‘We are hoping to get this task force up and running and get the gardaí to focus on the Courtown area for a few months,’ Mr Ireton said.
‘The local sergeant is very good – we have been very lucky with sergeants – but it worries me that she is not working full time, based back here with her crew.’