Carol Byrne looks at the issues raised at the recent County Joint Policing Committe meeting in Kildysart

 

Rural garda stations that escaped closure last year may face the chopping block this year, according to Clare’s garda chief, as he told a public sitting of the County Joint Policing Committee that “more stations will be closed in Clare”.
Chief Superintendent John Kerin was asked to speak at the meeting, which was open to the public, on the future of the rural station and outlined to the meeting that a total of 36 stations were closed last year nationally, with only one of those in Clare.
“If the minister and commissioner bring in a policy, we do have to implement it. Some will be closing this year and I can see more closing in the years ahead. There will be more stations closed in Clare, I have not been told where or how many but there will be a number closed this time, so those that escaped closure last year could face closure,” he said.
He explained the decision of what stations to be closed rested with the Minister for Justice, in conjunction with the Garda commissioner and once a decision was taken he would “have to manage resources to get the best value I can”.
“It does present challenges to people in the community as there will not be the same personal touch. Until we are told what stations are to close, I can’t say what is to happen,” he said. 
He explained to the meeting that in a short period, the gardaí in Clare have lost 45 members due to retirements in the main and Councillor Oliver Garry said recruitment would have to be looked at by the Minister for Justice.
“There is recruitment in the army at the moment and not in the gardaí but I believe they are looking at that. A lot of people do want to join the gardaí. This will have to be handled by the minister,” he said. 
His sentiments were echoed by Mayor of Clare, Councillor Pat Daly, who said “movement needs to be done to lobby the Minister for Justice. We have a fine place in Templemore and it is lying idle”.

 

 

Importance of Community Alert highlighted by Chief Superintendent

Calls were made to Chief Superintendent John Kerin to retain the current level of garda resources in the area.
Members of the Kildysart Community Alert lobbied Clare’s garda chief to maintain the resources currently in the community amid fears over station closures and a draw on resources within the county.
Chairperson of the Community Alert in Kildysart, Michael Michaels, spoke of the efforts the local group have made in the community and how they are dedicated to assisting the gardaí in any way.
Mr Michaels raised the issue of retaining the garda car for the area and sought a replacement for a local garda who retired recently. Chief Superintendent Kerin explained that the Clare division was down a number of cars. However, he said the commissioner had recently allocated the commissioning of further cars for the gardaí and it is hoped the division will see the benefit of that allocation. He said all going well, he hopes “that car will be here” as long as the local garda minds it.
He also indicated that another garda would be taking up a post in the area shortly.
Mr Michaels was commended for the work the Community Alert does by Superintendent Gerard Wall of Kilrush Garda District who said, “It is people like yourself and organisations like Community Alert who assist us greatly. You play an invaluable role.”
Chief Superintendent Kerin also spoke on the importance of Community Alert schemes and said he couldn’t stress enough their importance.
“I’ve lost 45 gardaí through retirements and I’m going to lose more. I don’t envisage more recruiting so more and more we will be depending on the public to be our eyes and our ears out there. We had a very serious incident back in West Clare recently where there was a serious attack on a family and it was because of good neighbours who gave us the car licence plate that three people are now going to face serious charges. We would say to neighbours to be more nosy, especially when you know a house is unoccupied and you see a caller, ask what they are doing there, keep an eye on each other,” he said.
As part of an outline of crime statistics in Clare, Chief Superintendent Kerin issued crime figures to those present for the Kildysart and Labasheeda areas. They showed that 15 crimes were recorded in the Kildysart and Labasheeda areas in the last 10 months.

 

‘Gurriers should be locked up’ says mayor of Clare

At meeting, held in Kildysart on Monday, the Mayor of Clare called for the “gurriers” involved in recent family feuding in the Ennis area to “be locked up”.
Councillor Pat Daly said there has been huge concern out there following the recent anti-social behaviour in Ennis arising from family feuds. “This has arisen where two families were at a wedding in Ennis and then went on to the Maiville Estate, where residents there were in fear, and then at the Maid of Erin Roundabout. These people are gurriers and they have to be stopped, they should be locked up for many years. It is time now that we get them out of the town of Ennis and locked up.”
Following the comments, Chief Superintendent John Kerin described this feud as “appalling and the conduct associated with it is beyond belief”.
He explained to the well-attended meeting that gardaí have arrested eight people in relation to these incidents, with seven charged at the time of the meeting.
“Four or five are in custody and there are further people who will be charged in relation to the wedding. One of our gardaí was injured as a result of this,” he said.
Arising from Mayor Daly’s comments that those involved be “locked up for many years”, Chief Superintendent Kerin said “what happens in court is down to the judiciary” aadding “I can assure you that we will do all in our powers to stamp that out”.
“This kind of behaviour does give Ennis a bad reputation, when in actual fact the crime figures in Ennis show that Ennis is one of the most peaceful towns for a town of its size in the country,” the Chief Superintendent said. 
Giving an outline of the county’s crime statistics, Superintendent Kerin said of the 11 broad crime categories, only three categories have seen an increase, with a total increase of 13 crimes.
Among these categories was weapons and explosive offences, which represented an increase of 10 of the 13 crimes and these were attributed in the main by Chief Superintendent Kerin to the feud in Ennis.