Lack of Gardaí responsible for major increase in rural crimes

A JUMP of 17% in daylight burglaries in rural areas is being blamed on a lack of garda manpower.

Garda management wants an extra 11 gardaí placed in the two districts of Fermoy and Mallow, in the Cork North Garda Division.

A request for six in Fermoy and a further five in Mallow has so far been turned down by garda headquarters in Dublin.