Mayo businessman had to follow robbers in his own car

Concern over local garda resources aired

A BUSINESSMAN had to follow robbers as there were no garda resources available at the time of an incident at his property, a meeting of the Mayo Joint Policing Committee was told.

A question on resources was tabled to the garda authorities by Councillor Michael Kilcoyne, who is not happy that they are adequate.

A man had to follow robbers in Castlebar, he explained, in his own car, as there were no resources available in the local station to come out and deal with the incident.

Councillor Christy Hyland agreed they were not being given the resources, saying it was time for the force to get back to basics.

The businessman in question, he said, had an excellent alarm system and could see the intruders on his phone.

“Give us our superintendents back into our towns who were managing their teams and don't be centralising it,” he told the meeting.

Instead the government is taking them out of Mayo and Roscommon.

“The people I represent are concerned when they see calls are not responded to.”

Chief Superintendent Ray McMahon said he is bound to follow up on government policy. He would love to have gardaí on every street but that wasn't going to be the case.

On the issue highlighted, Supt. Joe McKenna was following that up with the injured party.