Darragh Mangan, Kieran Jinks and Ciara Kennedy at the Halloween disco.

Community Policing Halloween disco has them all hypnotised on the dancefloor

Boogie shoes were put to use at Mullingar Town Band Hall on Wednesday October 21 last considering the amount of dancing at the Community Policing Halloween Disco.

The hall was transformed into a spooky space full of fancy dress costumes from Batman to scary witches, and every character in between.

The disco was organised by Community Policing Mullingar for members of the community who have intellectual disabilities and special educational needs. One of the organisers, Gda Fiona Walsh, said: “We decided to throw a Halloween party to interact with the community – that’s what we do and how we get to know everybody.”

Superintendent Bláithín Moran thanked the sponsors of the event, Westmeath Local Safety Partnership Forum.

The event created an opportunity for those in the community with special educational needs to better get to know local gardaí in a lighthearted, friendly manner.

Special education teacher, Jason McKevitt, said: “It’s great public relations with the garda here, and it shows the people using the disability services that the garda are there for them in a friendly way.”

All in attendance were grateful to receive invitations and be included in the bewitching Halloween celebration.

Support worker Natasha Walsh from the Muiríosa Foundation, said: “It is really hard for us to find events like this so it was great that the gardaí came in and thought of the intellectual disability service and invited us all down and for the staff to come down as well.

“They’re really enjoying it. We’re proud as an organisation to be included in things like this and to be thought of, so we’re really delighted to be here.”

Everyone enjoyed socialising, dressing up and most importantly dancing along to some catchy tunes and in the spirit of Halloween.