This article is from page 11 of the 2012-04-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
CLARE’S most westerly Garda Station closed at the weekend.
The West Clare village of Carrigaholt is now without a Garda Station for the first time since the formation of the force.
The station in the Kilrush Garda district was one of 29 nationally to close at the weekend, and the only station in County Clare to be vacated under the current cuts.
H o w e v e r Garda Chief S u p e r i n t e n d ent John Kerins predicted further closures in the coming years, during the January meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC).
The small village station in Carrigaholt fell victim to a drop in Garda personnel due to an employment freeze and mass retirements, and the ever-tightening Garda budget.
The Carrigaholt area will continue to be patrolled by gardaí from Kilrush and Kilkee.
Meanwhile the chief superintendent, in conjunction with the local superintendent – Gerry Wall, are planning to reassign gardaí from Kilrush to the smaller sub-stations in the area on a part-time basis. These gardaí will man the stations, such as Labasheeda and Doonbeg, at advertised hours a few days a week. Chief Supt Kerins reassured members of the JPC that he did not believe the policing service would be affected. Gardaí have also highlighted the importance of community and neighbourhood watch schemes in rural areas.