Garda community bus unveiled
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Garda Tomás Blake , Mullingar Community Policing Unit; solicitor Patricia Cronin, Judge Keenan Johnson, and Judge Seamus Hughes at the launch on Thursday evening. Thomas GibbonsImage 2 of 3
Peter Jones, state solicitor; Chief Superintendent Peter Duff, Keenan Johnson, Circuit Court Judge; Seamus Hughes, District Court Judge; Patricia Cronin, solictor; Inspector Blaithin Moran, Dara Johnson; Inspector Jarlath Folan, Garda Camilla Corbett; Thomas Flynn and Martin Daly. And in front: Superintendent Alan Murray; Peter Hamill, Hamill’s Recovery; Sgt Roger Nicholson, Garda Scott Kahler; Garda Neill Donellan; Garda Tomás Blake and Garda Fiona Walsh at the Annebrook House Hotel on Thursday evening. Thomas GibbonsImage 3 of 3
The pupils and staff from St Tola’s NS in Delvin were the first passengers on the new bus. Thomas GibbonsThe unveiling of a new community bus provided for the Mullingar District by An Garda Síochána took place recently.
The garda community bus will be used solely for the benefit of the community, to ferry young teams to and from games, bring retirement groups on outings, and Gda Thomás Blake of the Community Policing Unit says it was something that was very much needed in the community.
“I really felt that for us to get a people carrier would be of huge benefit for young and old and the whole of the community of the Mullingar District,” began Gda Blake.
“This wouldn’t have happened but for the help of Circuit Court Judge Keenan Johnson and District Court Judge Seamus Hughes, as well as Patricia Cronin of John J Flynn Solicitors, and all the community organisations including the Lyons Club, Berty Dunne of the Annebrook, Steripack and more.
“The new community bus will facilitate the young and the old, it’s going to be fantastic and a great service for the people who can’t afford to get transport to different projects.”
The provision of the community bus will enhance the service that An Garda Síochána can provide to the wider community, and will be primarily used by the community policing unit to bring youth groups, older persons and various other community groups to different outings.
“There’s no charge for using the bus whatsoever, the bus is registered to An Garda Síochána, it’s fueled, insured, and taxed by the gardaí, and we will provide the driver,” said Chief Superintendent Peter Duff.
“I would like to thank the judges, both Judge Hughes and Judge Johnson, who kindly allotted funds in order for us to purchase the bus, and indeed our own transport section for fitting out the bus,” he continued.
Members of St Tola’s sixth class were the first to experience a trip on the new Garda Community Bus, with teacher Kieran Stenson saying it gave a positive view of what the gardaí do for the community.
“Gda Thomás Blake collected us from the school and brought us for a tour of the garda station. He gave a talk on how they protect us in society. We then got to see the cells, and the kids locked their teacher in a cell,” he laughed. “It gave us all a positive view of what the the guards do.”
St Tola’s teacher Anne Stenson added, “We’re very privileged to be the first members of the community on the maiden voyage of the police community bus and they were very kind and caring to us.”
- To book the Garda Community Bus contact the Community Policing unit at Mullingar Garda Station.