Election hopeful calls for increased garda presence

ONE of Wexford’s new local election candidates is calling for increased Garda presence and visibility on the streets of Wexford town.

Michelle O’Neill, who is running as part of Verona Murphy’s Wexford Independent Alliance in the upcoming local elections, referenced a recent incident which saw someone pushed to the ground and robbed of her social welfare money in broad daylight outside the post office on Anne Street.

“First of all my sympathies are with the lady involved in this terrible and terrifying incident,” she said. “We should all be able to feel safe walking down the streets of our local town as we carry out our daily or weekly errands. I believe an increased Garda presence would help greatly in this feeling of safety”.

The well-known FIFA referee believes that part of the problem is that gardaí are too often stuck behind their desks as they navigate increased levels of bureaucracy.

“We need increased numbers of Gardaí in Wexford,” Ms O’Neill said. “As was highlighted by Verona Murphy in the Dáil in October, we are the 4th lowest county in terms of Garda numbers.

“Community policing is where the focus should lie. I believe that is what the person on the street going about their daily business wants to see; they want to see more gardai on the beat.

“Our gardai here in Wexford town are doing as much as they possibly can with the numbers they have but there is a clear need for more. The population of Wexford town is continuing to grow and town residents, businesses, visitors and shoppers want and deserve to feel safe in their own town”.

Ms O’Neill believes the current numbers of new recruits being turned out from the Garda Training College in Templemore are only sufficient to replace retirees and those leaving the force.

“Perhaps a second Garda training college is needed,” she suggests. “Also from talking with people, there also needs to be more incentives and home/life balance within the Garda force to encourage young males and females to take up a career in An Garda Siochana.”