By Chris Ashmore
YOU can drive from Donegal to Galway without seeing a Garda car, it was claimed at a meeting of the Donegal Local Community Safety Partnership in Lifford yesterday during a discussion on garda resources and the need for additional gardaí to be allocated to the county.
Making the comment regarding a drive to Galway, Cllr Jimmy Brogan highlighted that gardaí are part of the community and said that the “long and short of it” is that Donegal needs more gardaí.
His views were echoed by James Trearty, Termon Clean-Up Group and PPN representative, who said that you could go from Donegal Town all the way around the coast to Ramelton without seeing gardaí, something he described as being “frightening”.
He also warned that “the local touch is going to be lost” if gardaí are not allocated to small stations in rural areas around the county.
He noted that the old garda stations in Doochary and Churchill have been sold and he was of the opinion that the old station in Glenfin “may be gone”.
He also expressed disappointment regarding a reduction in the number of superintendents in Donegal although he acknowledged that the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, had consented to look at the revised divisional areas if they are not working.
Meanwhile, Cllr Donal Coyle raised the issue of drugs and felt the need for a new campaign. Cllr Jimmy Brogan agreed that drugs are a “major scourge” and he agreed they should set up some sort of campaign to discourage young people from getting involved.
“I think drugs are a bigger issue than drink ever was,” he stated.
He also felt that there are “very few people getting caught” for drugs, and that “the more guards we have on the street the better”.
Cllr Michael McClafferty queried what the situation was in relation to the Garda Drugs Unit in Donegal and a drug dog.
It was his understanding that there was an “equipped garda dog van” in Milford, but it needed a handler. He claimed training had taken place but no dog had arrived.
“A dog is as good as ten people,” he maintained, calling for a dedicated dog unit.
In response, Superintendent Karen Duffy, Community Engagement, Donegal South, said she was not aware of a dog van in Milford, and pointed out that in relation to the dog unit it was a national policy.
In relation to garda numbers, she acknowledged that there are not enough gardaí, but stressed that ultimately this is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.
Cllr McMonagle, chairperson of the Donegal DLCSP praised the work of the drug squad and noted there have been “significant drugs finds” in Donegal over the past 12 months.
