Fears of a crimewave as 31 garda stations to close
GARDAI today expressed fears of a crime wave across the country after the Government announced the closure of 31 garda stations.
Four of the capital's garda stations are to be chopped while 10 more will have their opening hours slashed.
Justice Minister Alan Shatter signalled a raft of cuts to stations across the country -- with more than a quarter of those situated in Dublin set to be affected.
Four stations -- Rush, Whitehall, Dalkey and Harcourt Terrace -- will be closed down next year. And eight more stations in Dublin, including Cabinteely, Terenure, Cabra and Donnybrook -- will have their opening hours reduced to 8am to 10pm.
The closures and scale-backs are just some of a raft of stations throughout the country that have been chopped as part of the Budget. Stations in Stepaside, Kill O' the Grange, Sundrive, Malahide, Santry and Howth will also be stripped of their 24-hour statuses.
Dublin TDs and the Garda Representative Association (GRA) have today slammed the cuts, expressing serious concern about public safety.
GRA President Damien McCarthy said the move meant vulnerable members of society have now been put at risk: "There is a palpable fear of crime in both the urban and rural areas, and the presence of the local gardai is vital to protect the vulnerable and reassure the public."
hnews@herald.ie
- Niall O'Connor
