Concerns raised over possible amalgamation of Cork garda units

Public representatives in Cork have raised concern about the possible amalgamation of garda units across large neighbouring areas which had, until now, their own dedicated cohort of gardaí.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) this week warned that a lack of manpower could mean the amalgamation of garda units currently covering Carrigaline and Douglas, with the same arrangement applying to units covering Bishopstown and Ballincollig.

Whereas currently one garda unit would be on duty in one area and another in the neighbouring area, under the new plan, one unit would work in one area and would simultaneously be on call in the other.

'Ghost units'

This is due to a phenomenon known in garda circles as ‘ghost units’, where a unit is theoretically covering an area, but because of a lack of manpower that unit has no gardaí.

Under the new arrangement, the garda unit working in Carrigaline would also be on call to work in Douglas if needed, to cover for the ‘ghost unit’ rostered to work that same shift there.

Similarly, one unit would be on duty in Bishopstown and on call in Ballincollig.

The garda sub-stations at Douglas, Carrigaline, Bishopstown, and Ballincollig are all run from Togher Garda Station, the Cork City South community engagement headquarters.

The GRA warned that the plan was likely to be enacted “within a month”.

Operational issue

Fine Gael minister of state and Cork South Central TD, Jerry Buttimer, said that while the plan was an operational issue for Garda management, the minister for justice and the Garda Commissioner needed to address it with local management.

“I know from talking to local gardaí that it is something they’re very unhappy about, and it’s something that needs urgently to be clarified,” said Mr Buttimer.

Pádraig O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central, said that the plan was a matter of great concern, and highlighted a lack of understanding of Cork’s policing needs.

“I believe it’s high time that acknowledgement needs to be given to the fact that areas like Carrigaline, Glanmire, Ballincollig, large new suburbs like that, don’t get their fair share of garda resources devoted by central command, and that’s something that has to be reviewed,” he said.

Calls

Independent councillor for Cork South-East and former lord mayor, Kieran McCarthy, said there had long been calls to increase garda numbers in the Douglas area, and pointed out that to call it a neighbourhood did not do it justice.

“It also has all of Rochestown, and parts of Grange, with Donnybrook itself having large population numbers. The district has more than 20,000 people living in it,” said Mr McCarthy.

Peter Horgan, Labour Party councillor in the South-East ward, said the amalgamation plans were “off the wall” and would be a “disaster” for the area.

“Commissioner Harris must take an interest in Cork and allocate gardaí to city units as a matter of priority,” said Mr Horgan.

Colm Kelleher, Fianna Fáil city councillor for the South-West ward and former lord mayor, said the plan was “alarming”, and he intended to raise it with justice minister Jim O’Callaghan.

“There is a commitment in the programme for government that we will recruit an additional 5,000 gardaí,” he said.

“While I know that will take time, it seems that yet again Cork is being left behind when it comes to the allocation of garda resources.”