The biggest disaster for the country was closing the Garda stations

The biggest disaster for the country was closing the Garda stations, said Cathaoirleach Cllr Justin Warnock at the latest County Leitrim Joint Policing Committee. 

"The Garda stations closed and the drug issues and all these other issues multiplied right across every county in this country. We just need that bit more connectivity with an Garda Síochána," he said. 

He added: "Unless we have feet on the ground and the Gardaí become known to the local people, there's no confidence in them."

Cllr Warnock said that he "would always be worried about the drug issue" noting that there is a very "young population in Kinlough with over 300 children attending the primary school and 220 students attending the secondary school with those attending third level education returning home for the weekends. 

"I am worried that there isn't enough visibility of an Garda Síochána", he said, adding that "you have to make an appointment to get someone at the Garda station or go to Manorhamilton or Ballyshannon".

He continued: "I'm worried that we have got a greater presence of an Garda Síochána in Kinlough."

He said he was previously promised by a previous Superintendent English that the house next to the Garda Station was to be renovated and said "it has to be a proactive station that people have interaction with."

Cllr Enda Stenson supported the Cathaoirleach's comments saying that, in the Mohill area, the sergeant there used to reside in the Garda station.  

Cllr Mary Bohan also stated that no councillors "were happy about the stations closing down" but the "powers that be decided that was the way to go."

She said that the Gardaí that are there are "doing a great job but we need to see more of a presence."

Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken said there is one sergeant and three Gardaí attached to Kinlough and "they're supported on a 24/7 basis by Manorhamilton" as well as the district headquarters in Carrick-on-Shannon and the Ballyshannon Armed Response Unit.

Regarding the station, he noted that works have "commenced and stalled" at the station and that it was unlikely it would be used as a living quarters in the future and instead will be used for "offices or better accommodation for the staff that are attached to Kinlough."

The Chief Supt said An Garda Síochána are "fully engaged" with services that tackle issues such as domestic violence and drugs and also give presentations at national schools and secondary schools in the county. 
"The reach of An Garda Síochána into the community can't be underestimated or just based on the number of personnel you have at a fixed station," he said.

Cllr Warnock responded that he was not going to "leave here more confident going back to Kinlough" and that he "very seldom saw a Garda walking the beat in Kinlough."