Shatter ‘put gun to head’ of Garda boss over rural stations

The head of the largest Garda representative body has claimed Justice Minister Alan Shatter has “put a gun to the head” of Commissioner Martin Callinan over the closure of rural stations.

Garda Representative Association president John Parker said the Garda Commissioner had effectively been put “in a stranglehold” by his political masters to cut the annual Garda budget, which was already “inadequate”, through the closure of stations.

His comments come as Mr Shatter signalled he expects the Commissioner to recommend further rationalisation of the network of 660 stations in his annual policing plan, due to be submitted to the Department of Justice shortly.