Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Justice, Dara Calleary has said that more Garda stations in Mayo could face closure in the next few months after the Justice Minister Alan Shatter launched a fresh attack on rural Garda stations. Minister Shatter has confirmed that the closure of Glenisland, Tourmakeady, Mulranny and Bellacorrick Garda Stations, along with dozens of others across the country, is just the beginning of a sustained attack on community policing.
Deputy Calleary has called on the minister to immediately clarify how many stations he intends to shut down in Mayo this year and the savings he has identified from these closures.
“Minister Shatter’s latest threats of Garda cuts are causing a significant amount of fear in communities across the west. In opposition, Alan Shatter himself called for extra gardaí in the community, claiming that areas of the country have become ‘lawless badlands’. He clearly understands the importance of a visible Garda presence in the community and the serious long-term consequences of removing such a key local service.”
