Call to lift Garda cover from former Taoiseach’s home

GARDAI and the
Department of Justice have been urged to redeploy several officers currently
guarding the home of former Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, following a spate of
burglaries on the Southside.

Sinn Féin
activist Ray O’Kelly, who is also a member of Nutgrove/Loreto Neighbourhood
Watch, believes that gardaí guarding the former Taoiseach’s home should be
reallocated to patrol duty in the wake of an upsurge in burglaries in the area.

Mr O’Kelly said
many residents in Nutgrove and Loreto are living in fear in their own homes
following a rise in the number of local burglaries

He claimed that
about a dozen locals have had their homes broken into since Christmas.

“I am aware of
many people living in fear in their own homes, particularly the elderly people
in our community,

? he said.

“The way to deal with this is to have more gardaí
on the beat on our streets on a regular basis.

?

Mr O’Kelly is
of the opinion that the gardai who guard the home of former Fine Gael Taoiseach
Liam Cosgrave on a rotational basis should be redeployed.

“I undersand
that there are currently four gardaí on a roster to cover former Taoiseach Liam
Cosgrave’s home,

? Mr O’Kelly stated.

“These gardaí should be reallocated back
onto the local beat immediately to help community confidence. With all due
respect to our former Taoiseach, there is no need for these gardaí to be
providing security on his home, particularly when the community has a more
pressing need.

?

One local man,
Paul Savage, told Southside People that the home of his father was broken into
shortly after he passed away in early January. He said the area has a large
population of elderly people, many of whom have been terrified by the spate of
burglaries.

“My father
passed away just after Christmas and he was only gone about four or five weeks
when I got a call to come down to the Garda station. The house was absolutely
ransacked. We don’t even know what was taken because none of the family, apart
from my father, lived there.

“This was in
Loreto Park,

? he added.

“I think there have been about 10 houses broken into
there in the space of two months. You would always get a few burglaries but
never that many. Old people are very nervous. They tried to break into one
80-year-old woman’s house and she is very nervous. Luckily enough they didn’t
get in. I think one of her daughters has to stay with her now.

?

Meanwhile,
Glencullen/ Sandyford Sinn Féin representative, Shaun Tracey, has called on
Minister Shatter to reverse a decision to close Stepaside Garda station between
the hours of 10pm and 8am following a recent upsurge in burglaries in that
area.

“I am aware of
a number of burglaries and attempted burglaries in Ballyogan, Kilcross and
Moreen in recent weeks and over the Christmas period,

? Mr Tracey said.

“The decision
by our own local TD [Minister Alan Shatter] to close Stepaside Garda station
from 10pm to 8am must be overturned in my view. People have the right to feel
safe in their homes and this cutback will leave many of them feeling vulnerable
during these hours.

?

A spokesperson
at the Garda press office said they did not comment on security arrangements
for any individual.

“Any incident
reported to Garda will be fully investigated,

? the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson
at the Department of Justice said it would not comment on the security
arrangements for former Taoisigh.

Regarding the
closure of Stepaside station between the hours of 10pm and 8am, the
spokesperson said the measures had been recommended by the Garda Commissioner.

“The reduction
in the public office opening hours of Stepaside Garda station is designed to
free up gardaí from indoor desk duties to outdoor operational duties and to
allow for increased patterns of patrol,

? the spokesperson said.

“Local Garda
management is ensuring that the maximum amount of attention is being given to
combating criminal activity, including burglaries, in the Stepaside and
Nutgrove areas.

?