This photo was taken in July 2019, when the new garda community bus was introduced for service: it shows Peter Jones, (state solicitor), Chief Superintendent Peter Duff, Keenan Johnson (circuit court judge), Judge Seamus Hughes RIP, Patricia Cronin (solicitor; now judge), Inspector Blaithín Moran, Dara Johnson, Inspector Jarlath Folan (since retired), Garda Camilla Corbett, Thomas Flynn and Martin Daly. Front: Superintendent Alan Murray, Peter Hamill (Hamill’s Recovery), Sgt Roger Nicholson (since retired), Garda Scott Kahler, Garda Neill Donnellan, Garda Tomás Blake and Garda Fiona Walsh.

Threat to Community Policing Unit in Mullingar under new garda roster

Olga Aughey

Published: Tue 3 Oct 2023, 9:18 AM

Last updated: Tue 3 Oct 2023, 9:21 AM

Changes as a result of a new garda roster from November 6, which is causing tension in An Garda Síochána, could have consequences for the Community Policing Unit in Mullingar.

Currently, the unit has six personnel, but under the new roster, that could reduce to two, and of particular concern is that the four officers who would be assigned to other duty are the only four qualified to drive the community bus.

Launched in 2019, the bus is used to transport youth, older persons and other groups on outings. There is no charge for the bus, which is fuelled, insured, and taxed by An Garda Síochána, who also provide drivers.

There was a huge community effort in securing the bus for the town, and district judges, Keenan Johnson and the late Judge Seamus Hughes, awarded funds from the courts, to add to those raised by businesses and community organisations.

Gda Conor Staunton, spokesperson for the Garda Representative Association (GRA), said the plan to reduce the Community Policing Unit in Mullingar from six to two members is “a massive backward step in community policing for the town of Mullingar”.

“What the new roster means for us is that four units will be turned into five, but we don’t have the manpower to go to a fifth unit.

“We are already seriously under resourced and in a division lacking manpower for day to day operations.

“Under the new roster, there’s a planned reduction of investigating units and specialised roles in order to be able to implement the planned change from four to five units. What will happen with the Community Policing Unit is that it will be reduced from six to two members, four members of that unit moved to a regular unit, and that’s where their priority will then lie.

“While the people at the top might dress it up and spin it in such a way to say that community policing will be still part of their role, or that they will be released in order to drive the bus, we on the ground know the reality.

“Once those four members are back on regular duties, they just won’t be able to dedicate any time to community policing. That is bad news for the community of Mullingar.”

Gda Staunton said that in recent years, “we have seen what is effectively the downgrading of Mullingar from what was once a regional headquarters”.

“We have lost an assistant commissioner, who is now based in Kilkenny, and as part of the new Operating Model a new division was formed in Meath Westmeath, with the chief superintendent based in Navan. We have also lost a forensic collision investigation unit.

“The proposal to move to a new roster in November will have serious implications for people in Mullingar as well as the gardaí who have to police it.”