This article is from page 4 of the 2007-10-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THE absence of a garda on beat pa- trol in Crusheen is contributing to a rise in anti-social behaviour in the village, according to locals.
The local Garda station has been vacant for a number of years due to various issues concerning accessibil- ity to the building.
While most of the issues have been resolved, a problem regarding the site map is the latest reason for the building to be unoccupied.
The Garda responsible for Crush- een currently works out of Ennis
Garda station. Locals believe this is not good enough and say that, given the growth in population, a garda must be based in the village.
Local residents are concerned that levels of anti-social behaviour in the village have increased in recent weeks.
Groups of young men are congre- gating in new housing estates includ- ing Inchicronan and Brodagh View and are proving a nuisance for resi- Cla e
Several residents have complained to Ennis Garda Station. While gardai have called to the area, locals believe
that the lack of a garda stationed there is adding to their woes. One resident, who did not wish to be named, de- scribed recent behaviour:
“They knocked on doors, threw eggs at houses and hurled abuse and threats at residents, who live here with young families. This is most notable when there is activity at the local pub. It has been going on for a while. It is uncalled for. | am very concerned about it,’ said the resi- dent.
“It is frightening. Crusheen is lo- cated in a commuter area, accessible to Galway, Limerick and Gort and is
a nice residential area, with people getting on with their daily lives,’ she SrHKG
Clare Garda Representative Asso- ciation spokesman, Tom Keane, is concerned that the problem has per- sisted for so long.
“The station 1s furnished, but we can’t take possession of it until the problem of the site map is sorted. How do we expect to have policing when we don’t have a garda station?” he asked.
“You are bound to have anti-social behaviour if you don’t have a garda in situ,” said Garda Keane.