Manhunt underway in Roscommon following attempted burglary
The Roscommon Herald understands that a major Garda search is currently underway in the Roscommon area.
A manhunt is underway in the Roscommon area this evening for a number of men following an attempted break-in.
The Roscommon Herald understands that there was an attempted break-in to a property in an estate in Roscommon Town earlier this evening.
Local reports indicate that two men in balaclavas were dropped off by a third party driving a black Volkswagen Golf.
Two raiders fled the scene on foot and the Herald understands that the car was seen being driven in the direction of Athlone. A major Garda search is currently underway.
Details of the attempted break-in were emerging as Sinn Féin TD for Roscommon/Galway Claire Kerrane this evening, on the floor of the Dáil, raised the issue of falling Garda numbers in County Roscommon.
Speaking in the Dáil this evening Deputy Kerrane said: “The lack of Garda visibility is a serious issue and it is getting worse.
“And I want to be very clear in everything I say in this debate that none of my criticism is aimed at Gardaí themselves – they are under incredible pressure and they are stretched.
“In terms of County Roscommon – we have two districts – Roscommon and Castlerea – pre- Covid we had a total of 171 Gardaí in the county. Today, we have 146.
“And if you take the Castlerea District – it comprises of four large-ish towns (Boyle, Ballaghaderreen, Castlerea and Strokestown) and six villages (Ballinlough, Elphin, Frenchpark, Keadue, Roosky, and Tulsk). Census 2022 puts the population here at 11,297 and we have 68 Gardaí in this District.
“That is 68 Gardaí to serve 11,297 people and that’s just one district in our county,” said Deputy Kerrane.
“Garda numbers have fallen in every single area in this district from Boyle to Castlerea, and where we had Gardaí in Ballinlough and in Elphin pre-Covid, there are 0 today.
“I believe the amalgamation of Boyle and Castlerea into one District in 2012 was a mistake, the area is far too long and I understand that there are just two Garda cars on patrol in these areas at night. This needs to be reviewed.
“We have just four Community Gardaí in County Roscommon. This is inadequate and something I have repeatedly raised as insufficient,” she stressed.
“On raising this with the Minister for Justice I am told of the new Garda operating model, which equals more front-line Gardai and increased Garda visibility. This is not happening on the ground. And if we are to solve this then we have to first recognise that we have a major problem.
“I have previously written to the Garda Commissioner on two occasions in relation to Garda transfers, something which also needs to be looked at.
“People need to feel safe, we need more Gardaí and we need to see them on the beat.
“This is an issue I will continue to raise,” said Deputy Kerrane.
* The Roscommon Herald will update this story when more details become available.
