EU presidency taking Gardaí away from local areas, Mac Donncha says

Sinn Féin councillor Mícheál Mac Donncha has said that Ireland’s presidency of the European Union is diverting Gardaí resources from local communities.

The Donaghmede councillor was speaking following a stabbing in the area on August 6, which saw a man hospitalised.

Mac Donncha said that Gardaí have been taken out of their normal patrol areas and allocated elsewhere in Dublin for the duration of Ireland’s EU presidency.

With Ireland hosting the EU Presidency until December, party leader Mary Lou McDonald has said that Garda resources are being “stretched,” and to Mac Donncha’s point, is causing gaps in Garda coverage on the Northside.

Mac Donncha said, “the stabbing is only the latest crime in a totally unacceptable level of crime and anti-social behaviour in Belmayne, Parkside and surrounding areas.”

“The community is being plagued with this. People are afraid on the streets, in apartment block entries and even in their own homes. I have never before been contacted so often by so many people in one area about crime and thuggery,” the Sinn Féin councillor said.

The Donaghmede councillor said the Garda response is “not working.” 

“The promise of a new Garda station in this area is meaningless for tackling today’s crime and anti-social crisis in the area.”

Party leader McDonald said that a “robust” and “resourced” policing plan is needed to tackle Garda shortages on the Northside.

Speaking on the e-scooter issue, the Dublin Central TD said “the Garda Commissioner has said the Gardaí are stretched as a result of the EU Presidency and pursuit training won’t happen until next year some time.”

“For the new regulations to be enforced, we need investment in personnel, equipment and training.  That must be a priority,” she said.

The 2025 annual report of An Garda Síochána noted that Gardáí will be required to fulfil “considerable” security and logistical commitments, while at the same time maintaining “business as usual” in frontline policing, but that hasn’t happened according to Mac Donncha.

“We need more Gardaí deployed. Let them be redeployed to this area from EU presidency roles in the city centre, some of which seems to me to be for the optics rather than real security,” he remarked.