Gardaí plan protest over ‘Dickensian’ station

GARDAÍ have threatened to protest outside a station where conditions have been described as “Dickensian”.

The Garda Representative Association yesterday accused the Office of Public Works of dragging its feet on replacement proposals for the Ballincollig station.

Three years after the association highlighted concerns over deplorable conditions at the station in the Cork satellite town, their patience is running out.

“Sewerage was coming up through the floor; there were rats around the place and there were three times too many gardaí there for the size of the building,” said GRA national executive member, Mick Corcoran.

“In addition, there were little or no facilities for the seven female gardaí and no ramps for disabled people.

“The only thing that was rectified was the sewerage problem. An adjoining site was purchased for a new station over a year ago.

“There was supposed to be some movement on the project last July, but there has been nothing since,” Garda Corcoran said.

He made his comments after Michael Creed TD sought a progress report from Martin Manseragh, the minister with responsibility for the OPW.

Mr Manseragh said the project will depend on the availability of resources and the priority accorded to the project by both the gardaí and the Department of Justice.

But Mr Creed said: “This response is hardly as definite and unambiguous as the pre-election promise that guaranteed a new Garda station as a matter of urgency. It appears a decision on the station is far from certain.”

Garda Corcoran said the GRA was concerned the station was being put on the long finger and his organisation was seeking a meeting with the Garda authorities to discuss the issue.

If no positive news is forthcoming from the OPW, Garda Corcoran said the GRA national executive may be forced to hold a protest outside Ballincollig Garda Station to highlight the issue.