This article is from page 14 of the 2005-08-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
A CLARE village which has undergone a population explosion has three fewer gardai than it had when just 150 people Tere dats) Ken
There is now just one garda on duty in Quin and he can be called to Shannon to assist there if the need arises.
A car burned out in the middle of the village on Sunday night is just one ex- ample of why more gardai are needed to protect and patrol the village, which has grown from 150 inhabitants to more than 1,000, locals say.
“When I was young, this village had four gardai. Now we have just one and he is regularly called away to duties elsewhere.
“The garda we have does a very good job, but he can’t be two places at once,” said Sonny Scanlan, Fine Gael Council- lor for Quin and Deputy Mayor.
‘This is one of the fastest growing ar- eas in Clare and we need more gardai.
“We would also like to see any extra garda brought-in, living in the area,” said the councillor.
Cllr Scanlan said that locals and their representatives have waged a long cam- paign for more policing in the town.
“The Government promised to pro- vide 2,000 extra gardai but there has been no sign of any coming here.
“I have spoken to senior officers and they tell me they believe we will not have another member sanctioned for Quin,” said Cllr Scanlan.
The councillor added that it was someone from outside the Quin area who was responsible for the arson at- tack on the car.
“But you do not know what will hap- pen from day to day and we need more gardai,” Cllr Scanlan said.