At a Joint Policing Committee meeting held in Westport Superintendent Mick Murray said that street policing in Westport is in a “healthy state”, with swift action taken by gardaí in recent incidents in the town. The Superintendent said that they are at an advanced stage with the recent burglary investigation where an elderly man’s home was broken into, and as in the incident where a man’s face was injured a file will be sent to the DPP in the “not so distant future”.
Cllr Christy Hyland said that elderly people in the area are people “are going to bed with rosary beads in one hand and holy water in the other,” following the spate of break ins to older people’s home throughout the country. Supt Murray advised older people to start checking who is at their doors verbally before opening them. Another proactive initiative which elderly people might like to include their information on is the Register of the Vulnerable, which was introduced at Fahy Community Alert last week. Communities are asked to supply the name of the vulnerable in their society and then these people will be contacted by gardaí to see if they would like to be included on the register. Once on the register, gardaí will make sure that those listed have Garda numbers to contact when in a situation; the gardaí will have directions to their houses and also an emergency contact number for these people.
Ring ‘sick and tired’ of the same trouble makers
Deputy Michael Ring said that he is “sick and tired” of the same five or six youths in the town causing all the trouble, and after being dealt with in the courts that it is “frustrating to see them back on the streets”. Supt Murray said that he has “focused all his energy” on these people and “bringing quality prosecutions” against them in court.
Cllr Hyland said that there is enough “blackguardism and thuggery” in the area and said: “I don’t think the judiciary are in the real world,” and, “prison is a nice place” where they work out in gyms and, “I hear they send out for take-aways”. Dep Ring said that thugs should be made to get out of bed and do a bit of work.
Paedophiles in area
Fianna Fáil councillor Margaret Adams asked what the status is on a register of paedophiles in the area as people have a right to know if there is one living next to them. The Superintendent said that this a a “sensitive area” as it could place a person at risk if named, and at the moment there is no legislation for gardaí to tell the public, however since 2001 a garda inspector in the district monitors the movements of registered sex offenders.
HSE called on to attend meeting
Dep Ring said that representatives from the HSE need to attend the next JPC meeting to discuss what the situation is with vetting tenants and consulting with the local authority as certain people are causing anti social behaviour in privately rented houses.
Public asked to ‘stand up and be counted’
Supt Murray said that the people on Westport need to “stand up and be counted” in that make a statement, be called on as a witness or make an anonymous phone call if they witness or know of anything which can make the area safer. The superintendent also thanked the businesses of Westport for CCTV footage obtained from their premises when needed in cases.
