Garda chief commits to Glanmire station presence

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has given a commitment that gardaí will continue to be stationed in Glanmire, Co Cork.

He also pledged to do everything he can to speed up new accommodation for gardaí there.

The commissioner made the commitment when he visited the station to see its archaic conditions.

He also visited Fermoy Garda Station, when he viewed new construction works.

In both stations, the commissioner listened as rank-and-file members voiced their concerns about proposed further cuts in pay and allowances.

Two years ago, the Garda Representative Association, which represents rank and file members, threatened to walk out of the three-storey Victorian building because conditions were so poor.

The building is cramped and overcrowded, with no showers or proper changing facilities, and no private interview rooms.

There is no wheelchair access and gardaí have to rely on the goodwill of businesses in a nearby industrial estate to park patrol cars.

During his visit to the station, the commissioner also contacted the Office of Public Works to see what progress was being made on opening a garda station in nearby Sallybrook.

In 2011, local Fine Gael TD Dara Murphy announced that the OPW was applying for a change of use for that premises, which is 1.6km from the existing station.

However, it appears no significant progress has been made since then.

On Feb 5, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter told Fine Gael senator Colm Burke that while a suitable premises had been identified, “issues concerning the purchase of the site are subject to ongoing legal correspondence” and, therefore, was not in a position to offer any further comment.

Local gardaí say they are still none the wiser.

Concerns had been raised that the failure to open a new garda station could eventually see gardaí being transferred to Mayfield.

Garda management is handing control of policing Glanmire from Cobh to Mayfield. This was supposed to happen in April, but it has now been put back to early November.

Local Labour councillor Noel Costello spoke to the commissioner outside Glanmire Garda Station last Friday.

“I received a commitment from him that a garda presence is guaranteed for Glanmire, which I welcome,” said Mr Costello. “I told him the gardaí and the people of Glanmire deserved a better station and the commissioner said he was aware of that.”