Justice Minister criticised over garda station

Justice Minister Michael McDowell is negligent in his duties for not building a new garda station in Dunmanway, Co Cork, it was claimed today.

Gardaí have worked out of a terraced house since 2002 when after the town’s station was shut down on health and safety grounds.

Mr McDowell visited the town amid a Garda Representative Association protest on October 3 and promised locals that he would resolve the issue.

However local TD and Opposition justice spokesman Jim O’Keeffe today said it was incredible that Mr McDowell could visit Dunmanway and make false promises to its residents.

“Minister McDowell and Minister Tom Parlon in the Office of Public Works have shown supreme negligence on this issue,” he said.

Talks are believed to have broken down between the OPW and a local landowner who had agreed to provide a site for a new permanent garda station.

Mr O’Keeffe added: “The people don’t have a proper police service to protect themselves and their property.

“Local gardaí aren’t able to provide a police service because of the inaction and negligence of the Minister for Justice.”

Dunmanway gardaí claim the terraced house they work out of is completely unsuited to policing. It was a victim of an arson attack last year.

“The town has been mercilessly exposed to serious public order problems, such as attacks on gardai and garda property,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

The issue is expected to be raised by local Garda Representative Association members at the annual conference in Galway this week, which the Cork North West TD will be attending.