Louth gardaí abandon station

GARDAÍ in Co Louth have abandoned their station and refused to return until a replacement one is built.

The officers based at Dromad on the Border have been temporarily assigned to nearby Hackballscross, but local policing will not be affected.

Gardaí claim the building is not fit for use as a garda station and that there have been several attacks on officers’ private cars by youths.

The Office of Public Works (OPW), which acquires land for new stations, said a site has been identified for a replacement garda station.

OPW officials met with garda management last Thursday on the issue.

An OPW spokesman added: “The Chief State Solicitor’s Office is currently processing legal documentation in relation to acquiring the site and we expect it to be resolved shortly.”

The Garda Representative Association (GRA), which has 10,000 members, last night said more than 100 stations need to be replaced, extended or refurbished.

Up to 30 priority cases include Dunmanway, Ballinhassig, Ballymun, Finglas, Wexford, Scotstown in Co Monaghan and Mill Street in Galway city.

The Garda Building Programme was allocated €27.5 million in 2004.

GRA spokesman Owen Connell criticised the slow progress on the building programme and called on Justice Minister Michael McDowell to take the responsibility for it away from the OPW.