Group to lobby against any closures of rural one-man garda stations
The move follows concerns that the Minister for Justice and Garda Commissioner want to close scores of one-man garda stations as part of cost-cutting measures.
‘Resistance To Barrack Closures’ will be formed at a meeting which will be held in Drinagh, Co Cork, on Friday at 8pm.
Hundreds of people, including representatives from community alert groups from as far apart as Macroom and the Mizen peninsula are expected to attend.
The decision to form a regional opposition group was taken following a meeting in Kilbrittain last Monday attended by 3,000 people.
Con McCarthy, who is chairman of the Kilbrittain group formed to oppose the possible closure of their local garda station, said intense pressure would be put on the Government to prevent gardaí being withdrawn from rural areas.
Government TDs Jim Daly (FG) and Michael McCarthy (Lab) attended the meeting and were left in no doubt about the level of opposition to such closures.
Organiser Mr McCarthy said that Deputy Daly promised to raise the issue at a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting today which will be attended by Minister for Justice Alan Shatter.
“We will also be inviting the TDs to come to Friday’s meeting in Drinagh.
“We want clarification from them as to whether it is the Minister for Justice or Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan who has to sign the official order to close any garda stations. We understand that it is the role of the minister.”
West Cork Development Partnership is also helping to organise the Drinagh meeting.
Mr McCarthy said: “We will be setting up a special west Cork committee and will be linking it with a similar group in Kerry. In addition we will also be linking up with other groups along the west coast.”
He said tentative talks have taken place between different groups across the country and it is likely they will form a national lobby group within the next fortnight.
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