'If the gardaí can’t get on top of this, it will get out of control': Complaints Cork City North gardaí are under-resourced 

CORK City North, the area comprising the former Mayfield and Gurranabraher garda districts, has not received the envisaged number of community gardaí.

There are 15 community gardaí and one sergeant in Cork City North. 

The “ideal envisaged” number for the district, according to a garda statement, is 20 gardaí and two sergeants. Both the Mayfield and Gurranabraher districts should each have 10 gardaí and one sergeant.

The Gurranabraher district has six community gardaí and no sergeant. There are three community gardaí in the Gurranabraher station, two in Ballincollig, and one in Blarney. The Gurranabraher community gardaí don’t have a dedicated patrol car.

The Mayfield district has nine community gardaí and one sergeant. Three of the community gardaí are in Mayfield station, four are in Watercourse Road, and two are in Glanmire.

The Garda Press Office said: “There are currently six community gardaí attached to Gurranbraher and it is anticipated that this number will be increased to one sergeant and 10 gardaí during 2020.

“Although there is no dedicated patrol car allocated to community policing in Gurranabraher, there is a community bus and [they] do have the use of other official transport, when needed.

“It is expected there is one additional community garda to be allocated to Mayfield station by end February 2020, which will bring the unit to full strength in that district (one sergeant and 10 gardaí).

“The figures of 20 refer to the ideal, envisaged allocation of two sergeants and 20 gardaí to Community Engagement Cork City North. This encompasses the former Mayfield and Gurranabraher districts.”

Cork City councillor and general election candidate Thomas Gould says these figures show community gardaí in Cork are “under-resourced.”

“[Gurranabraher Garda Station’s community gardaí] has no sergeant. The numbers never got to Cork; they were diverted to other areas,” Mr Gould told The Echo.

“They have no garda car for them to do their job; they have to borrow from other departments.

“The community gardaí are community gardaí in name. They are not appreciated enough and they are not being resourced to do their jobs. The number of violent assaults that have occurred in Cork city over the past while is shocking. If the gardaí can’t get on top of this, it will get out of control. It is an impossible job for them, with the numbers they have in Cork,” Mr Gould said.