Spotlight on Carrigaline policing

A public meeting next week will allow residents in Carrigaline to air their safety and policing concerns in the area.

The meeting will take place in the Carrigaline Court Hotel on Monday 15 April, inviting residents to raise issues following a number of high-profile antisocial behaviour incidents in the town in recent weeks.

Organised by local Sinn Féin Cllr Michael ‘Frick’ Murphy, the meeting is expected to outline the party’s vision for policing and reform and hear local issues, with speakers including Donnchadh O’Laoghaire, Cork South Central TD and Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, and MEP Liadh Ní Riada.

Donnchadh O’Laoghaire said: “There hasn’t been the increase in resources that is needed in rapidly growing communities like Douglas and Carrigaline, and we hope to take on board some of the issues affecting Cork locally to bring to the Minister for Justice.”

Meanwhile, Deputy O’Laoghaire confirmed that he had been told a member of An Garda Síochána had been identified to open Carrigaline Garda Station for office hours, and would likely be in place “in the next week or two”.

Cllr Michael ‘Frick’ Murphy said: “Carrigaline is a huge area of nearly 17,000 people, you can’t have the station closed most of the time; it should be 24/7 ideally. There’s been a lot of robbing and antisocial behaviour in the area.

“We’re hoping for people to come and express their views, and give us ideas about what they feel is needed in Carrigaline with regards to policing.”