Call for more rural gardaí as shop is raided for third time in two months

A nephew of a 73-year-old shopkeeper, whose premises has been raided three times in the last two months, yesterday pleaded for the return of gardaí to rural areas.

Justin Horgan said his uncle, Jimmy Collins, was in a state of shock and “really upset” after the break-ins at his small grocery in the village of Ardfert, Co Kerry.

“Rural crime is on the increase — enough is enough. More and more gardaí are being based in Dublin while stations in the rest of the country are being depleted of resources. Rural Ireland is being deprived of yet another essential service.”