Garda stations vital in rural areas

The closure threats to rural garda stations must alarm everyone in rural Ireland. Law and order in rural areas has now declined to the extent that robberies and attacks are so commonplace they do not even make the newspapers.

The prime targets of this creeping rural terror have been the old, lonely and isolated.

I challenge any sociologist to do a survey of crime rates in Ireland and I am quite certain the murder rate per 1,000 people will be higher in rural than in urban areas.

If there is a determined effort to close schools, post offices, garda stations and other facilities, then the rural population will decline more rapidly as people move to built-up areas.

People are very concerned about the closure of rural garda stations, and the termination of this community garda system. I have had letters of such concern from residents in Cloyne, Carrigtwohill, Ballycotton and Whitegate, all of whom fear the removal of garda protection from their respective areas. These residents have expressed their fears to me and all were high in their praise of the work and vigilance of the community garda, some of whom live their areas. As one old lady remarked “having a community garda is a blessing in disguise — do help us to retain the last piece of security left us.”

The rural garda is more than just a physical deterrent against crime, he or she represents the eyes and ears of a community that might otherwise be too scattered to defend itself. The situation will get worse unless people organise a campaign to push this issue to the top of the political agenda. I appeal to Justice Minister Alan Shatter to take note and act accordingly.

Cllr Noel Collins

St Judes

Midleton

Co Cork