Future of rural Garda stations in the balance

The future of a number of rural Garda stations in West Cork hangs in the balance as concern mounts over a second round of station closures.

Six stations were recently closed in the Cork West Garda Division, which extends from the peninsula in the south-west to Kanturk in north-west Cork.

It has emerged a garda has already been transferred from a peninsula station, leading to claims there’s also a “stealth closure policy in place”.

Senior Garda management claimed no decision has yet been made on the future of Adrigole Garda station but locals are convinced that is not the case.

Cllr Danny Crowley (FF), who lives in the locality, and who is a civilian member of the Cork County Joint Policing Committee, said he was “very disappointed” that Garda management had not discussed or consulted with members of that committee about the Adrigole situation.

“As far as I’m concerned this is another unwarranted attack on rural Ireland,” said Mr Crowley. “I don’t see any point in the JPC sitting around having meetings when we have no input. Having a garda based in the area provides people with a sense of security.”

He referred to recent comments made in the Irish Examiner by John Parker, president of the Garda Representative Association, the organisation which represents 11,200 rank-and-file gardaí.

“He said the lack of patrol cars and manpower meant that gardaí were no longer providing an adequate policing service to many rural areas,” said Mr Crowley.

Chief Superintendent Tom Hayes, who is in charge of the division, said the garda based in Adrigole had been transferred to a bigger station. He stated the Adrigole station was not closed.

He said “no formal decision had been made to close the station at this point”.

“The future of Adrigole will be considered in conjunction with the ongoing national review of Garda stations,” said Chief Supt Hayes.

Six rural stations have been closed in that divisional area in recent months.

They are Ballygurteen, Knocknagree, Castletownshend, Goleen, Ballyfeard, and Inchigeela.

Chief Supt Hayes said not having a garda based in a station did not mean the area was not being patrolled.

“We continue to deliver policing services to all areas,” he added.

The issue will be discussed at length at the Cork County Joint Policing Committee meeting next month.

Meanwhile, Con McCarthy, chairman of the Rural Garda Station Retention Campaign, said: “What is happening is that they’re closing stations by backdoor means.

“I’m concerned that ever more stations will be closed when the Budget is published in December.”

He said the “powers that be are not listening to rural communities” and he hopes his organisation will be allowed point out the error of closing rural Garda stations at Oireachtas Justice Committee level.