Gardaí angry at plans to close station

GARDAÍ have reacted angrily to Government plans to close one of the busiest garda stations in Dublin.

Assistant Garda Commissioner Al McHugh confirmed plans to shut down Harcourt Terrace station yesterday.

It is understood the building, which also houses the offices of the Film Censor, will be sold to allow the development of an affordable housing scheme.

A disused butter factory which formed another part of the site has already been sold off to a property developer. Gardaí have been told the station is due to close in July 2007.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors yesterday voiced outrage at the decision which will see the 70 officers at Harcourt Terrace redeployed to other stations in the area.

AGSI general secretary, Pat Flynn, said: “It flies in the face of reasoning which says you must have a police presence in the community in order for the community to feel protected.”

The AGSI claims the station is one of the busiest in Dublin with one of the higher prisoner detention rates in the State at an average of 1,500 per year.

Gardaí based at the station have responsibility for patrolling an area from north of the Grand Canal as far as Baggot Street and including the Stephen’s Green area.

A spokesperson for Justice Minister Michael McDowell said the same number of gardaí would continue to police the area, although some station boundaries would be redrawn.