This article is from page 31 of the 2007-06-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 31 JPG
THE disposal of a key community position in Shannon, allied to the lo- cal sergeant being moved from the town, are indicators that locals are being neglected.
That’s according to Independent councillor Gerry Flynn, who said he was disappointed to hear that the Sergeant-in-Charge of Shannon Garda Station moved to Ennis Garda Station last week.
Sergeant Dermot O’Connor, who had held the post for two years, 1s now stationed in the Chief Superin- tendent’s office at Ennis Garda Sta- tion. He replaced Sergeant Seamus
Ruane, who has been promoted to the rank of inspector. The vacancy created in Shannon will be filled within weeks.
Earlier this year, Clare County Council did not renew Develop- ment Officer Padraig McCormaic’s contract, which he had held for four years.
He had held a key post in Shan- non, where he had played an integral role on many committees and was involved in several projects which were seen as a major benefit to the town.
Councillor Flynn said the people of the town feel very concerned that Sergeant O’Connor has left, while
the crucial Development Officer’s role has been discontinued.
“We need a continuing of personnel at Shannon Garda Station. We are not getting that as Shannon is being used as a training ground. Shannon is growing, yet we are a sub-station of Ennis. Ennistymon, Kilrush and Killaloe all have their own district stations. It is not good medicine here for us in Shannon,” said Cllr Flynn.
“If we had a situation where Shan- non was a district station with a su- perintendent, they would stay and there would be more continuation,” he added.
He said that the people of Shannon have not been informed who will
take over Mr McCormaic’s work.
“A lot of the projects he was in- volved in will fall, while the loss of the sergeant-in-charge will have huge repercussions for the local area,” he Sr BKGE
Cllr Flynn believes that Shannon should be afforded the status of dis- trict garda station, while substations should be created in Newmarket-on- Fergus and Sixmilebridge.
“What we have in Sixmilebridge and Newmarket-on-Fergus are not even substations. There are huge social issues in the community. Rob- beries are becoming more frequency and we need stability in policing in the area,’ he said.