This article is from page 75 of the 2008-10-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 75 JPG
CLARE county councillor Oliver Garry (FG) said a higher Garda vis- ibility in Kildysart is giving an ele- ment of confidence and security back to the local people.
In the last number of weeks a patrol car has been visible in an area that has been victim to daylight burgla- ries and boat engine thefts.
The Kildysart councillor said that the visibility of the gardai and the formation of the local community alert under the chairmanship of local
businessman Michael Michaels are adding to community confidence.
A spate of burglaries within a ten- mile radius of the village had been a cause of concern for the quiet west Clare area.
Homes in rural areas around Bal- lynacally and Cranny had witnessed a series of day light burglaries
The thieves targeted the unoccupied homes during the day and among the items stolen include jewellery, cash and computer games.
Five boat engines, valued at up to €6,000 each, had also been stolen
from Crovraghan Quay, Kildysart on two separate occasions.
These boats were used by local farmers to access the island.
“The reports I had been getting back from people was the lack of Garda presence and the Garda vis- ibility has given the people more as- surance that there is a watchful eye on the area,” he said.
“*T felt concerned for the people who lived on the island, and have now moved to the mainland, that they felt their boats and engines were not safe on the quay side. People go to the 1s-
land on a daily basis to work on their farms. It is all very upsetting.
“The community is now more to- gether on this. They are reporting strangers in the area and are more alert to different people. People are also keeping an eye on elderly people living alone through the community alert,” he said.
Gardai are covering areas such as Ballynacally, Ballycorrick, Cranny, Coolmean and Kilmurry McMahon in the patrol car and giving support to Labasheeda, according to Cllr Garry.