This article is from page 27 of the 2007-03-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 27 JPG
REDUCING headline crime and increasing garda resources in tour- ist locations during the summer will be among the priorities for the new Kilrush Superintendent, Declan Bro- eee
The Kinvara native has just taken up the post as Superintendent of the Kilrush District, replacing Joe MckK- eown, who has gone to Dublin, after a year-and-a-half in Kilrush.
Supt Brogan has moved to Kilrush, having spent the vast majority of his years in the garda force, in Dublin.
Prior to moving to Clare, he worked in the regional traffic unit, based at Dublin Castle, for six years. During that time he was involved in some major infrastructure projects, includ- ing the development of the Port Tun-
nel and the Luas.
He has also spent almost 18 years working in the Special Detective Unit, based at Dublin Castle, while he has spent three-and-a-half years working overseas, mainly in Croatia.
‘IT have been looking at issues that have been happening here (in west Clare) over the past year. I will be fo- cusing on decreasing headline crime, like public order and assaults.
“You have to look at where public disorder arises from and try to ad- dress it, through CCTV and enforce- ment,” he said.
“Coming from a road traffic back- eround, I have particular interest in the Road Traffic Act,” said Supt Bro- eee
“The legislation is there for the guards to implement random breath testing and it is up to us to do it.
Since its introduction last year, it has had a huge effect on the number of road fatalities. If it works… great,” he said.
He also plans to increase garda re- sources in areas where populations dramatically increase during the summer months.
“You have a summer issue and a winter issue. The population of plac- es like Doonbeg and Kilkee increase during the summer and we have to look at putting extra resources out there,” he said.
While he is not opposed to alcohol, its abuse and that of drugs, lead to many problems.
“The abuse of alcohol and drugs leads to public disorder and people have to be responsible,” he said.
Additional resources have recent- ly been pumped into the detective
branch in Kilrush, on a temporary basis, and Supt Brogan is hopeful that these may remain in place, to tackle drug use and other serious crime in west Clare.
The Brogan name is well-known in Clare – Declan’s brother Paddy, an Ennis publican, is a prominent spokesman with the Vintner’s Feder- ation in Clare, while another brother, the late Enda Brogan, was County Registrar for Clare, prior to his death four years ago. Their father Michael was a garda based in Kinvara for many years.
Declan is happy to be back near his roots in Kinvara. “I am looking forward to it. It is great to be able to drive to work in the morning and not be stuck in traffic jams. Rural po- licing has a lot to offer and is more community-based,” he said.