Garda station conditions ‘deplorable’

POOR conditions and chronic overcrowding at a Garda station in Co Cork have prompted the force’s headquarters to call for urgent action to remedy the problem.

Garda management have written to the Office of Public Works (OPW) urging it to immediately purchase a private property adjoining Macroom Garda Station which would be used to facilitate an extension.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) — which represents nearly 12,000 rank and file gardaí — said the 180sq m station was only suitable for up to 12 gardaí. However, 47 officers are based there.

And more gardaí, it emerged, are scheduled to be transferred to Macroom due to the decentralisation of the west Cork traffic corps.

GRA national executive member Pat O’Sullivan described conditions in Macroom Garda Station as “deplorable”.

“The station was built in the late 1800s for the RIC. The front of it is listed, which presents a problem for any renovations,” Garda O’Sullivan said. “But an adjoining property has come up for sale which would provide gardaí with the space they need. We want the OPW to buy it immediately.”

He said that, according to accepted guidelines, Garda district headquarter stations, like Macroom, should have a minimum floor space of 1,500sq m.

That, he said, was eight times the space available in Macroom Garda Station.

“The station only has two cells where, furthermore, it’s recommended that district headquarters have five cells.”

He added there were also a number of other deficiencies such as the lack of a doctor’s room as well as a consultation room for solicitors, while there was just one shower for male and female gardaí.

“Gardaí are falling over each other because of the lack of space. Conditions are very poor there,” he said.

The GRA warned if the OPW does not move swiftly to purchase the property currently up for sale, a golden opportunity will be missed.

“The Garda station is very central to the town and right next door to the courthouse. If this extension isn’t acquired it could mean that the OPW will eventually have to build a new station on a greenfield site outside the town centre. Local people wouldn’t like that and it could end up costing the taxpayers far more money in the long run,” Garda O’Sullivan added.

The GRA has also highlighted deficiencies at Kanturk Garda Station, which the association says was simply too small to handle the burden of modern policing duties.