Fears that two rural Garda stations may be closed following national review

The possible closure of 'one-person" Garda stations in rural areas, including two Meath stations at Crossakiel and Kilmessan, has been met with dismay by a local election candidate, Irish Rural Link, the organisation campaigning for sustainable rural communities, and the Garda Representative Association (GRA). One-third of all Garda stations - 236 throughout the country - are staffed by a single officer and their future will come into focus in a new national review set up by the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy. The gradual withdrawal of Gardai from rural areas into frontline urban stations has increased fears that rural areas will be left exposed to criminals. Many rural stations have fallen into decline over the years and there is a reluctance in Government to have them refurbished. A spokesman for the Minister for Justice said that there were no current plans to close any rural stations. However, he could not comment on the ongoing review of Garda stations or give any guarantee that rural stations would not be shut. While numbers of Gardai have increased significantly in some urban areas like Dublin and Limerick, numbers in rural areas have declined or remained static. Meath Fine Gael local election candidate Catherine Yore said that she was dismayed at the threatened closure of Crossakiel Garda station and called for additional Garda resources for stations in Meath. 'The Government has stood over dwindling numbers at rural Garda stations and this is unacceptable. It is time now to help the Gardai in their fight against crime. Additional Gardai are needed as people have a right to feel safe and protected in their homes,' she said. Free up Ms Yore said that what was needed was extra capacity to free up Gardai from administrative duties to allow them to tackle crime. It is time for proper and necessary Garda numbers to be placed in our communities. Unfortunately, in these testing economic times, crime increases. There is an increased threat of burglary, breaking and entering and stealing. 'If Crossakiel Garda station was appropriately manned, then residents in areas such as Ballinlough, Killalon, Kilskyre, Drumbaragh and even Carnaross would have a lot more confidence with responses to crime in the area. It would also act as a deterrent to criminals,' she added. 'In 1997, there were two members of An Garda Siochana stationed in Crossakiel. There is no reason why, some 12 years later, we cannot have at least this number and more stationed here.' Irish Rural Link also expressed anger at reports that rural stations might close. Chief Executive Seamus Boland said: 'In a scrooge-like move in the budget, the Government suspended the scheme of community support for older people. The scheme provided funds to local community and voluntary organisations to install personal monitored alarms and items such as door and window locks to enable older people live independently.' Retreat He said that the Gardai"s 'retreat', coupled with the removal of community supports, would cause a crisis in rural security and he called on the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner to set up a review group on rural policing in conjunction with rural communities. The Garda Representative Association"s president Michael O"Boyce said: 'They (the Government) see the future of the Gardai all in centres of population and, like the cavalry in the Wild West, making a foray into bandit country every so often. That is their ultimate goal.' He said rank and file Gardai were concerned that some of the new civilian staff who had joined the upper echelons of the Gardai did not understand the value of rural stations.