Motion calls for a halt to garda station closures

ON a 18-10 vote, Clare county councillors passed a motion calling on the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter to reverse a proposal to close eight Clare garda stations.

A number of Fine Gael members voted against the motion, claiming the move will not make any real difference to policing in rural areas. Garda stations in Quin, Inagh, Lahinch, Broadford, Mountshannon, Doonbeg, Kilmihil and Labasheeda are set to close their doors.

 

The motion was proposed by Councillors Cathal Crowe, Bill Chambers and Pat Keane. Councillor Chambers said vulnerable people are living “in a state of constant fear and the Government has a duty to protect these citizens”.

“The proposal represents a nail in the coffin of rural Ireland… the station closures are leaving rural communities exposed.”

Councillor Pat Keane urged the minister to “rethink” the decision, while Councillor Cathal Crowe said the closure of the station in Broadford would represent a saving of just €5,000 a year.

“I don’t think we can justify any closure for €5,000,” he said. He urged the county’s Oireachtas members to appear at the next Joint Policing Committee meeting and justify the closures “rather than placating on doorsteps”.

Councillor James Breen supported the call saying, “People are living in fear. This will open the door for criminals to ramble-ride in cowboy fashion throughout the county.”

Councillor Gerry Flynn commented that the presence of a local garda station “is a source of comfort and security for people”.
“This Government stands for closing rural Ireland. There will be no garda stations, no schools, no post office and no jobs. People are being herded into urban centres.”

Councillor PJ Kelly stated rural Ireland is now “virtually insignificant versus urban Ireland”. “There is a form of rural decommissioning taking place,” he said, calling for a revitalised community alert scheme to be put in place.

Councillor Pat Hayes said there will be a perception that there are no gardaí in areas and he called for a lifting of the recruitment embargo for gardaí, a call echoed by Councillor Tommy Brennan.

Councillor Joe Cooney, however, said assurances had been made by the county’s Chief Superintendent John Kerin that rural areas would not suffer as a result of the closures.

Councillor Johnny Flynn noted crime figures for Clare compare “very favourably” with neighbouring counties. “The criminals are now mobile and there is no point in having gardaí sitting for a few hours in an isolated station,” he said.

Councillor Tony Mulqueen recalled how at a recent JPC meeting it was stated that some of the stations in question had only one or two visitors a day. He also suggested that the GAA could be drafted in to help set up community alert schemes.

Councillor Pat Burke said he was “confident” in the assurances made by the chief superintendent and that while a saving of €5,000 might not sound like a lot, when it is multiplied by 100 garda stations, it equates to half a million. He said it is important for gardaí to be out on patrol “rather than sitting in stations probably twiddling their thumbs half the time”.

Councillor Nagle said it was offensive to say that gardaí have been twiddling their thumbs, while Councillor Begley said it seemed some councillors had no faith in Superintendent Kerin. Councillor Nagle retorted that there was no suggestion of a lack of faith in Superintendent Kerin and that he had been given “a poisoned chalice”.

Councillor Christy Curtin described the plans as “devastating for West Clare” and he called for the chief superintendent to be invited to an area meeting in Kilrush to outline what will be in place once the closures come into effect. Councillor Bill Slattery noted the population of Lahinch can reach 5,000 people in summer and he voiced concerns about the possibility of the district station in Ennistymon closing overnight.

His Fine Gael colleague, Joe Arkins, said he had two communications from the public in North Clare and they favoured the closures. He said there is no chance that having a garda in a station for two hours a day would have any impact on a marauding gang.

However, Councillor Richard Nagle said if the closures go ahead, there will be “a very serious situation”.

“There will be only two stations from Loop Head to the Galway border, one in Kilrush and one in Ennistymon.”

Councillor Tom McNamara said people are “closing the door at six at night and they are afraid to go to sleep because of what might come in on top of them”.

The motion was passed despite significant opposition from Fine Gael members.

A separate proposal calling for resources saved from the closures to be allocated to providing mobile patrols in rural areas passed without a vote.