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RURAL IRELAND HAS been “decimated” by cuts to policing and infrastructure since the crash almost a decade ago – and the lasting devastation caused by the economic crisis has left Ireland’s rural gardaí at significant risk, according to members on the frontline.
Brendan O’Connor, who represents Donegal in the Garda Representative Association (GRA) and James Morrisroe, who represents the Cavan/Monaghan division told TheJournal.ie how the dramatic differences between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI at a time of “critical importance” are causing members to fear for their safety at a time of greater instability across Europe.
Said O’Connor:
“Ten years ago when we were only facing domestic terrorism, we had the ability to scramble with automatic weapons in any district. Now, we face heightened threats from the IRA and now the threat of Islamic terrorism, however unlikely it is, we’re not as prepared. We feel our armed capabilities have been centralised.
“We obviously hope that a time like that never comes but we have to be realistic and have the best force we can possibly have at any time. But right now, it’s just non-existent in places.
If you look at the difference between Lifford and Strabane. We have rural Killinaskully-type policing if something happened. We have the PSNI on one side of the road with armoured Land Rovers and then we have two mules [garda vernacular for 'hardworking frontline members'] in a Fiesta over here. I don’t like saying it but most frontline members are sitting ducks at times.
As things stand, certain gardaí are allowed carry sidearms in every district around the country.
However, it is the assertion of a number of GRA members that the removal of long-barrel weapons such as rifles to district headquarters means that gardaí will be unprepared in the event of an attack.
This theory was backed up by James Morrisroe. The Cavan/Monaghan representative for the GRA said the removal of the Uzi submachine happened in 2012. It was withdrawn from general detectives as management said it was no longer effective enough.
Instead, there is now a small number of the automatic firearms at divisional headquarters around the country.
Morrisroe added:
The Uzi was there. It was the finger in the dam I suppose and then that was taken away. Since then there have been terror attacks on civilians. To sit back and think we are immune is foolish.
The lack of new recruits is also a big issue for rural policing, according to both representatives. In Morrisroe’s district, since recruitment restarted in September 2014, they have received 20 probationers. However, there have been 29 retirements from the force. This means that, despite finally getting new members, the station is still down nine officers in total since the recruitment freeze.
“What we want for the border region especially is 24-hour patrols. That is something which is going to come down the line with Brexit as well. The cross-border criminals haven’t stopped but we have less to go on.
“If things go wrong with Brexit, you’re going to have to seal the border with temporary guards. It is something I don’t think is going to happen but it is something we have to be aware of,” Morrisroe added.
‘Talking to the wall’
Safety issues also arise for members when there is a lack of resources for adequate policing. Citing an example, O’Connor described how transporting those in custody to other garda stations is becoming problematic.
Where previously, his region would have had public order vans which had dividers between those in custody and officers, cutbacks have meant that occasionally, gardaí must sit beside alleged offenders.
“There have been at least four vans that haven’t been replaced. Members are now being spat at. There was one occasion that a man believed to have an infectious disease was being transported. He had an open wound and could have infected guards there. I have applied for additional vans, citing these reasons but you may as well be talking to the wall,” O’Connor added.
For O’Connor and Morrisroe, there is a disconnect between Garda management in Dublin and what the reality of police work is like for those working in under-resourced areas.
Rural Ireland has always been under-resourced, according to the two representatives. But they say there is a culture within the force to massage the stats so it would appear that we have a fully functioning force.
For example, O’Connor described how management can say that there is always an armoured patrol on the border region. However, the units, based in both Ballyshannon in Donegal and Dundalk in Louth, can be anywhere along the border when the call comes in, meaning that response time is impossible to predict.
And it is at this time, where the UK terror status stands at a “severe level”, officers in the Republic feel that the disparity between the two forces would be laughable if it weren’t so severe.
According to the GRA representatives who spoke to TheJournal.ie, an obsession with statistics is getting in the way of real policing. According to O’Connor, this is one of the biggest problems with the force:
I think the ethos and the cultural problem with the force is the massive disconnect with frontline police and management. A lot of people with autonomy are insulated and disconnected with the frontline. There’s no way of communicating. The way to get on and get promoted is to get into an office and be a bean counter.
The person who starves people of resources [is] promoted ahead of the guy who goes out and spends a few quid on the division. We’ve become obsessed with [Garda computer system] Pulse – ticking the boxes in Pulse.
We’re complete slaves to that machine and we’re in paralysis.
A statement from the Garda Press Office said that local Garda management closely monitor “the allocation of all resources, in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a district, divisional and regional level”.
It added:
The recommencement of garda recruitment has also facilitated the allocation of additional resources to all garda divisions. An Garda Síochána will ensure that additional resources are allocated in accordance with An Garda Síochána’s policing plan for 2017.
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This will be one walk the orangemen won’t be doing .
@Finn Bowe: some of then well be protesting though. Happens every year
They could start with teaching a few heads up at Stormont a little bit about the subject
Imagine the North used to policed by the RUC.
How times have changed.
Well done Psni. Maith na buachaillí.
The PSNI has been one of the great successes of the peace process. If Brexit does lead to a united Ireland we should extend it to a 32 county organisation to replace our own discredited force.
No wonder they want a hard border !!!
Well done PSNI, fantastic step forward for equality
When we get hate speech laws here…Journal will be boring…Many comments won’t be allowed….
@John003: Hate speech it seems only emanates from non-lefty liberals. Bit like discrimination which apparently is also only committed by whites! As to Pride, well they say that only comes before the fall? These Pride gigs are grand in themselves for a bit of fun if it were not for the fact that they are really a sad vehicle to prolong the “victim syndrome” of a lot of the so called LGBT, MGBGT community!
@Warthog: they are being victimised all over the world and until there is 100% equality everywhere, these marches and other LGBT need to continue. So keep up your own bigoted attitude and these events will continue.
@Warthog: So many of the LGBT community were victims of ‘gay bashings’, which happens in this day and age, so they have every right to have the victim status, and angry after 50 years of fighting for equal rights, also being fired from the workplace was another practice if the employer found out if an individual was gay, lesbian or transgender. and police forces of any nation used to beat of kill the LGBT community often, so don’t preach this crap please.
@Paul Furey: Hahaha that’s funny. See the truth hurts, as those with half a brain would understand that I was making a valid observation and no way was I being bigoted. But of course as I was not fully on-board with your agenda you revert to type and start the usual name childish name calling! As to been victimized, maybe you and the rest of the LGBT/MGBGTs should grow a pair and start protesting against Islamic countries that go way beyond victimizing and do in fact lop the heads off or throw LGBTs off high rise buildings.
@Warthog: Pride is about protesting about all bigotry including that which happens in Islamic countries. Surely that’s obvious?
So, An Garda Síochána, your move.
@Tomboktu: A move they made several years ago
They should start with allowing marriage, too.
Good on you PSNI go for it
I would not go rushing to heap praise here when in reality it’s still illegal to have any form of homosexual conduct between consenting adults in private. The notion of same sex “marriage” is ages away and while it took Paisley and his fellow travellers over 40 years to get the message over the peace process it will take the current Unionists forever to come round to the idea. This reactionary outlook has not stopped the DUP being handed wads of cash under the guise of adhering to the peace process but in reality they are just propping up the current Tory Government which is so tawdry it is not insisting on change in such areas as a quid pro quo for the money
Is the border a hate crime? I think it is.
have your say