No reduction in Swinford garda patrols or manpower

PLANS to significantly cut the opening hours of Swinford Garda Station to a total of approximately 18 hours weekly has provoked an outcry in the east Mayo town and its mainly rural hinterland.

Garda Superintendent Joe Doherty, head of the recently amalgamated Claremorris/Swinford garda district, has confirmed the proposed reduction in hours at the Swinford base. He said it’s not feasible to maintain a 24/7 service, 365 days a year, at two locations in the area covered by Claremorris, which is the district headquarters. Under the new arrangement, Swinford will lose out as regards opening hours but policing otherwise locally will be boosted as a result, according to the superintendent.

He elaborated: “The proposal to reduce the opening hours in Swinford is to release extra resources for foot patrols and mobile patrols as well as community policing in the Swinford area. There will be no reduction in manpower or the number or patrol vehicles in the Swinford area.”

He added that officers currently based at Swinford will be reporting to Swinford Garda Station as normal, under the new proposals. A consultative process is ongoing, Supt. Doherty said, explaining that a further public meeting is to be take place in Swinford on August 27 and any new proposals will not be implemented until after that date.

According to Charlestown based Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry Murray, members of the local community are dismayed by the proposed cut in the station’s opening hours. The proposed new station opening hours are: Monday to Friday (12 noon to 2 p.m.) and (9 to 10 p.m.), 12 noon to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays 1 to 2 p.m.

Councillor Murray commented: “The overwhelming feeling is that the State is beginning to disengage from rural Ireland. It seems to be one long litany of closures from courts to post offices to garda stations.”