GRA: 'Not accurate' to say extra gardaí assigned to Cork following amalgamation of units

Any additional gardaí assigned to recently amalgamated garda units serving Douglas and Carrigaline, and Bishopstown and Ballincollig, were simply reallocated from within their local subdivision and do not represent a fresh allocation to the city, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) has said.

Last month, Superintendent Finbarr O’Sullivan, who is in charge of Togher Garda Station, which runs the garda sub-stations at Douglas, Carrigaline, Bishopstown, and Ballincollig, said the merger was necessitated by a lack of manpower.

Two weeks ago, a spokesperson for justice minister Jim O’Callaghan told The Echo that Carrigaline would receive three additional gardaí, Douglas four, Bishopstown four, and Ballincollig one.

However, Pádraig Harrington, the GRA delegate for the Cork City Garda Division said those gardaí were simply reallocated from the Togher subdivision, and are not a fresh allocation to Cork.

“It’s not accurate to say there are extra gardaí assigned to Cork, there are no extra bodies here,” said Mr Harrington.

He added that while the GRA regretted the amalgamation, it understood the necessity to do so from a health and safety perspective.

Asked to comment, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the recruitment of extra gardaí was a Government priority.

“The numbers now applying are very significant, we’re going to increase capacity to facilitate the training of more gardaí,” he said. “Carrigaline is a fast-growing area, Douglas is a huge area, so is Ballincollig, but the bottom line is we will be recruiting more gardaí.”

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central, said clarity was needed from the Garda Commissioner.

“What does seem clear is that the city division hasn’t seen any new gardaí, and that, because of retirements and resignations, there are not enough gardaí to staff the units adequately,” he said.

Séamus McGrath, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South Central, said he had received assurances from Garda management that there would be a 24/7 garda presence in Douglas and Carrigaline, and Bishopstown and Ballincollig.

A Garda Síochána spokesperson said numbers attached to specific units change due to operational demands, the personal circumstances of officers, and other variables.