Gardaí say lives put at risk by Government’s penny-pinching

A CASH-STRAPPED garda force is becoming increasingly ineffective with the lives of the public and gardaí being put at risk by a penny-pinching government, it was claimed yesterday.

A number of angry speakers at the annual Garda Representative Association (GRA) conference in Galway said insufficient manpower, especially at night, was inadequate to maintain a proper service.

GRA General Secretary PJ Stone described the current situation as “a scandal” adding that the overstretched thin blue line wasn’t able to counter a situation where many elderly and infirm people were locking themselves in at 7pm for fear of attack.

Garda John Parker from north Cork said the Government was spin doctoring and had forgotten pre-election promises to significantly increase manpower.

“The current level is not enough to maintain even a plausible service to the public. Now we’re a fire brigade service cleaning up after crime instead of preventing it,” he said.

Seamus Griffiths from Galway said the city’s population had increased by 10% in the past 10 years while the local force was reduced by 20%.

“There were four gardaí on duty on St Patrick’s Night but up to 250 doormen minding pubs and nightclubs. Who do they ring when they have a problem putting someone out, the four guards,” Garda Griffiths said.

Pat Dowd from Dublin said we have one of the lowest policing rates per head of population in Europe, while Aisling Tubberdy said she often went on patrol on her own in that city from 10.00pm to 6.00am.

“I’ve being spat upon, kicked and had a glass thrown at me,” Garda Tubberdy said, adding she should have more back up.

“Our members are in danger out there. We want our resources restored,” Limerick based garda Kevin McCarthy said, while Garda Owen O’Connell from Monaghan added: “We haven’t got the numbers to police this country. Politicians should quit taking a swipe at us and give us resources.”

GRA President Michael Kirby was critical of a budget allocation this year which represented a 1.5% increase, well short of predicted inflation of up to 6%. He was also concerned by health and safety issues describing Kevin Street, Ballymun and Finglas Garda Stations as dangerous and unhealthy along with Portlaoise and Dunmanway in west Cork.

The GRA has commissioned a risk assessment report to be carried out by Professor Thomas Garavan of the University of Limerick into Limerick and Dublin West Garda Divisions as part of a pilot study into garda safety.

Mr Kirby said garda management was proceeding to implement the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act at a “snails pace.” He added that management policy was also needed to tackle bullying in the force which could effect up to 800 gardaí.