Taoiseach told there is 'a level of fear' in Ballaghaderreen
Deputy Claire Kerrane, Edith and Tom Forkin pictured in Ballaghaderreen on Sunday evening at a protest against the rise in crime and anti-social behaviour in Ballaghaderreen. Pic: Liam Reynolds
The issue of Garda numbers in Ballaghaderreen was raised with the Taoiseach in the Dáil this afternoon where he was told there is "a level of fear in the town", but also defiance and unity for positive action.
Raising the issue on the floor of the Dáil, Sinn Fein's Deputy Claire Kerrane said she was very proud to stand there and call Ballaghaderreen her home town. "And I was proud to stand with the people of Ballaghaderreen at a well-organised and well-attended Vigil in the town on Sunday night.
"Ballaghaderreen is a good town with good people and the sole purpose of the vigil was to send a message to your Government and to the Garda Commissioner - we need Gardaí and we need to see them.
"The falling numbers of Gardaí is an issue I have raised repeatedly in this House and with the Garda Commissioner - although with him, to no avail," said Deputy Kerrane.
"Officially statistics tell us there are four Gardaí and one Sergeant in Ballaghaderreen. If that was the reality, I wouldn't be raising the issue here today. Like in many rural areas, we don't see Gardaí and that is not the fault of Gardaí themselves, they are under pressure and stretched.
"I am asking you to support my call to the Garda Commissioner for a specific rural Garda plan to ensure an adequate allocation of Gardaí - not officially numbers listed as allocated but out on the ground, visible in our communities.
"Taoiseach, there is a level of fear in the community but in Ballaghaderreen, there is defiance and unity for positive action," she said.
Responding, the Taoiseach acknowledged the importance of Gardaí on the beat and agreed to bring the concerns raised in the Dáil to the Garda Commissioner and the Justice Minister for response.
