Duleek frustrated over 'lack of Garda presence'

A supermarket owner whose store was the subject of two recent robberies has condemned the lack of a Garda presence in Duleek and has called on the authorities to rectify the situation immediately. Jim Lowth, owner of Nicola's Supermarket, said: "There is no law in the village - the presence of the Gardai is essential here." The businessman's call follows debate at the Slane Electoral Area council meeting in Duleek two weeks ago when the lack of Gardai in the village was highlighted. Cllr Jimmy Cudden said there was serious understaffing which was affecting the village. He said that the Garda station was "shuttered for most of the time" and stressed that since Sergeant Flanagan had transferred from the village, the station was "shut more often than it is open". Mr Lowth said this week he was annoyed by the present situation in the village. "There is no law in the village. We need a Garda presence in a big way. If we even had a squad car with the word Garda on the side of it appearing in the village, it would be a start. This is going on far too long. Duleek is a forgotten village. We have youngsters roaming the streets here at night and there is no control." Cllr Cudden said the issue of the lack of a Garda presence was a serious one for everyone in the village. "I am not being political about it but, for the life of me, I can't understand why the Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern turned up in the village lately. It must have been a photo opportunity because there was absolutely no result from it," he said. He said that he had been told there were over 20 Gardai in Laytown in the newly-reorganised Garda division of Meath. "Does that means that other places are going to be left to their own devices? I hope not. What we need and want at this stage - and I think I am reflecting the views of all of the people of Duleek - is for the Garda chief superintendent to visit the village, speak to the people who live here and then give us assurances as to what is going to be done to make sure Duleek is properly policed."