Retirements to hit Tralee policing, warns garda

A senior garda has warned of the impact “massive” Garda retirements will have on policing in Tralee.

Superintendent Jim O’Connor told a joint policing committee that seven gardaí, four sergeants and one Garda inspector are leaving the Tralee force and there will be just one superintendent in the whole Kerry division in March.

As Supt O’Connor warned that “difficulties” lay ahead, there were calls for a public meeting to “teach people to look after themselves” in the vacuum left in the town’s police force and to assuage fears among concerned citizens of “a free-for-all”.

It emerged 42 gardaí will have left the force in Co Kerry between 2010 and the end of this month, including 12 sergeants, three superintendents and two inspectors. “10% of staff are going in Tralee and there is no replacement. It’s a massive reduction,” Supt O’Connor said.

The retirements, along with a 10% cut in budgets overall, would affect crime prevention and investigation. “This board has to take note of these issues. Come March 1, only one superintendent will be serving in Kerry. There is a reduction in inspectors too. There are difficulties lying ahead.”

However community policing would not be touched, Supt O’Connor assured members. “Community policing units will operate at full strength, but other policing, including crime prevention and investigation, will be affected.”

He also said the town now had 15 reserve gardaí which it did not have 15 years ago.

Cllr Ted Fitzgerald said the JPC had a duty to highlight problems associated with the retirements.

Cllr Toireasa Ferris said “scores” of young people were waiting to join the Garda and were doing various courses hoping to qualify. The recruitment embargo made no sense.