Call for Mayo to be restored to a single garda division
THE Mayo Garda Division must be reinstated, with a chief superintendent and superintendents allocated in each of its districts.
The call has come from the cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Councillor Michael Loftus, with Justice Minister Helen McEntee on a two-day visit to the county.
Councillor Loftus set out his concerns about policing in Mayo, with the county now joined with Roscommon and Longford, telling a meeting of the local authority yesterday (Monday) evening that the new policing model is 'not working' as the numbers aren't there.
He had sought a meeting last week with the minister, he added, but didn't get one.
Mayo is part of a three county division while other counties, he explained, including Kerry and Galway, are getting back their chief superintendents.
Meanwhile, our detective superintendent is now based in Castlerea, having been in Ballina.
There is only one superintendent in Mayo at the moment, he stated. The Claremorris superintendent is on leave until March, when they retire. The new superintendent in Ballina lives in Co. Meath.
Under this model, more inspectors need to be employed, continued Councillor Loftus. The potential under the three-county model is that if there is an incident in Belmullet, the inspector might be from Granard, and vice-versa.
Mayo, he added, is down five sergeants and 20 guards at this particular time. Meanwhile, members are being taken out of the county to steward at events in Dublin, such as matches and concerts, and also at the fleadh in Mullingar.
Councillor Loftus said the lack of manpower is causing 'civil unrest', citing a video of a car driving into chairs and benches at a premises in Castlebar in recent weeks.
“That is not good enough. There are no guards on the streets to police it,” he said.
The cathaoirleach continued to highlight how road fatalities are up, and drugs are an increasing scourge in our communities.
He wanted to see Mayo reinstated as a sole garda division, with its own chief superintendent, as soon as possible, and with superintendents in each of its districts.
He also wanted the Garda Commissioner to come to Mayo to explain why he is not putting guards into communities and giving us back our own districts, as is happening in other counties.
Fine Gael Councillor Michael Burke promised that the issues would be raised with Minister McEntee.
Councillor Damien Ryan suggested the cathaoirleach and also the chair of the Joint Policing Committee should seek a meeting with the minister and her deputy.