€400k bill for security at housing scheme in Cork

Taxpayers could face a €400,000 bill for providing 24-hour Garda security for builders who worked on a Traveller housing scheme.

The Irish Examiner revealed last April how the State had spent €300,000 on site security since building work started on the St Anthony’s Park scheme on Cork’s northside last June.

However, with the security provision costs running at more than €1,200 per day, city officials admitted last night that the full cost of could easily top €400,000 before gardaí are withdrawn.

It is understood the Garda presence will be maintained at the entrance of the scheme for the foreseeable future.

City council’s head of housing, Valerie O’Sullivan, said: “The fact is this housing scheme could not have been delivered without the security presence. But there is funding available from the Department of the Environment for Traveller-specific projects and we will be able to recoup all those costs from the department.”

READ MORE: Travellers in Cork agree to move into €5m estate after standoff .

Building began last June. Gardaí were deployed a short time later after claims of threats and intimidation directed at construction and city council workers.

The Traveller Visibility Group (TVG) said it had no knowledge of any such alleged threats or intimidation.

However, Cork District Court heard evidence last month that an individual with an address at the old halting site threatened to destroy the development.

The threat was made by Denis Stokes, 39, as gardaí tried to round up four horses found on a public road last April. He subsequently gave an undertaking to the court not to cause damage.

Gardaí insisted that their presence at the new site is a “crime prevention patrol” in the area to ensure there is no intimidation of staff working on the site. Gardaí said the officers on duty at the site are on non-public overtime, which does not come out of the city’s policing budget.

However, Traveller advocates described the Garda presence as “highly irregular”. They also criticised the installation of a five-camera CCTV system close to the existing halting site and the new group housing scheme.

READ MORE: Travellers in Cork agree to move into €5m estate after standoff .