Roscommon is a safe county and people should 'not be afraid' say Gardaí

Roscommon is a safe county, senior Gardaí told a recent meeting of the Roscommon Joint Policing Committee (JPC) .

Superintendent John Fitzgerald stressed that the crime rate in County Roscommon was very low. “People should not be afraid. They should be reassured by that. There is no reason for people to be living in fear. There are plenty of patrols around, plenty of cars to respond.” 

The meeting’s chairperson, Una Ní Chuinn of Roscommon County Council, said that it was important that that message was brought out from the meeting.

During the meeting, Superintendent Fitzgerald gave an update on the Garda road safety campaign.

“We will be concentrating on offences that contribute to death and serious injury on our roads, specifically speeding, drug and drink driving.

“We will be focusing on those who continue to take risks on our roads. Disqualified drivers, repeat offenders, they will be targeted,” he said. In addition, not wearing seat belts had been a factor in a number of fatal collisions in the Roscommon-Longford- Mayo Division. Getting motorists to slow down would also be a focus for Gardaí.

“We want to encourage drivers to drive with dipped headlights this time of year,” he said. “The increase in road deaths this year is concerning. No family wants to get the knock on the door, and no guard wants to be knocking on the door either.” 

He urged people socialising over the Christmas to plan their night out, such as having a designated driver. “Don’t put yourself at risk of drink driving or driving under the influence of any intoxicant.” Cllr Nigel Dineen asked how speed vans could be allocated to areas.

“We would have calls from a lot of schools on the main and regional roads. There are cars overtaking on these roads where there are children,” the independent councillor said. Cllr Dineen also asked had drug driving reached the same levels as drink driving.

Chief Superintendent Ray McMahon said that local Gardaí do have the capacity to appoint speed vans.

“We have set places, but we do have the extra capacity to put them on request,” he said.

He added that drug driving was starting to reach parity with drink driving. Superintendent John Fitzgerald said that drug drivers were being stopped in the morning with traces of cocaine in their system.