Superintendent supports call for garda sub-office

CALLS for a community garda sub-office in the Westbury area were supported by a high-ranking garda this week.
Speaking at a joint policing committee meeting in Clonlara Community Centre on Monday night, Superintendent Frank O’Brien said he would not be against locating a garda in a community centre or in an office room for a specific period of time, similar to an initiative on the south side of Limerick City.
Stationed in Henry Street, Superintendent O’Brien, who has jurisdiction for policy matters in South-East Clare, noted that as Ardnacrusha Garda Station is a rural station, it has limited opening hours.
During any eight-hour shift, he explained gardaí had only one quarter of its overall complement on duty and this included coping with deploying resources for court work, where gardaí could be tied up for a number of days.
“We have to prioritise our resources. If a garda patrol car does not come to an area in an hour or two, very often gardaí can be attending a more serious incident such as a robbery, serious assault or even murder. Incidents are prioritised in terms of how serious they are.
“People drinking in a public place is a serious concern. I would be willing to arrange a meeting with councillors to see how we can progress these issues,” he said.
He was responding to a call from Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald for a sub-office to be located in the area.
Councillor Fitzgerald highlighted a number of incidents of late night drinking by youths along the river near Shannon Banks.
“Residents were being woken up by youths who aren’t supposed to be drinking in public places. Some residents telephoned Ardnacrusha gardaí and there was no one in the station. Gardaí in Ardnacrusha are doing their best but they don’t have the required manpower.
“It took two hours before a patrol car came out to the scene. I have called for a community garda to be stationed in a sub-office in the Westbury area. If Ardnacrusha gardaí are called to an incident in Limerick City, we are left without cover.
“I have got phone calls from residents at 11pm looking for me to do something. I am a councillor not a garda. I tabled a motion in Clare County Council calling for the banning of drinking in public places,” he recalled.
Senior executive officer, Michael McNamara, pointed out bylaws banned drinking in towns but didn’t cover locations in South-East Clare.
Tony Hayes, who runs Westbury Stores, lodged a planning application two years ago seeking permission to demolish an existing garage and barber shop to construct three commercial units, one of which would be a sub-office for a community garda.
Mr Hayes had hoped the permanent presence of a community-based garda within easy access of residents living in Westbury, Shannon Banks and Carrig Meade would be hugely beneficial for the local community.
However, he had to withdraw the application after Clare County Council stated his plans represented “significant over development” of the site.