Drogheda sees numbers of community gardaí slashed

Councillors call on justice minister to address lack of Garda resources in the town amid increasing population and major drug-dealing in area

A letter written by the Mayor of Drogheda, Independent councillor Paddy McQuillan, to justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said figures he had obtained showed Drogheda 'has lost 50%' of its community policing gardaí since 2022.

Councillors in Drogheda have written to justice minister Jim O’Callaghan to highlight an “unacceptable” cut of well over 50% in the number of community gardaí in the town.

The Louth town was at the centre of a vicious feud between drug gangs, which terrorised families and communities and saw one of the lowest points in gangland violence with the torture, murder and dismemberment of a 17-year-old boy, Keane Mulready Woods in January 2020.

The government set up an inquiry, conducted by former probation boss Vivian Geiran which led to the establishment of the Louth Implementation Board, which published a report in March 2021.

It made recommendations across a range of areas, including policing, education, and community development, as well as increased investment in youth and drug services.

Garda successes, along with the deaths or dispersal of leaders of the respective gangs, brought an end to the feud, but large-scale drug dealing, and intimidation, continues, say councillors.

Figures show while there were two sergeants and 14 gardaí assigned to community policing in Drogheda in 2022, it now stands at one sergeant and five gardaí — suggesting an actual cut of closer to two thirds.

A letter written by the Mayor of Drogheda, Independent councillor Paddy McQuillan, to Mr O’Callaghan said figures he had obtained showed Drogheda “has lost 50%” of its community policing gardaí since 2022.

“This is unacceptable,” he said. “Drogheda is Ireland’s fastest growing town and since 2022 the area that our local gardaí police has greatly enlarged. With a major development on the north of the town, we will see 5,000 new homes.” 

He asked for a meeting to discuss options to address the situation.

“I also ask that senior management from the Louth South Division should also be present at this meeting to permit their input on resources needed in Drogheda and the south of the county,” Mr McQuillan said. 

Councillors from across the political spectrum held a meeting outside Drogheda Garda Station on Monday evening to protest over the lack of Garda resources for the town.

One of them, Labour councillor Pio Smith said: “I met Jim O Callaghan when he came to Drogheda before the local elections in 2019. I outlined to him the dire state of the situation as the drug feud was at its height. 

"He listened and gave a commitment that he would work to increase Garda numbers in Drogheda.

“Unfortunately, we are now in as bad a situation with Garda numbers as we were before the feud. The population of the town is now approaching 51,000 people.” 

He added: “Despite great work by An Garda Síochána, drugs are still being sold at a significant rate. We need a fully operational community policing unit otherwise we will have another feud on our hands."