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War of words over Garda HQ
08.04.10
A WAR of words has
erupted between a local Sinn Féin councillor and
Fianna Fáil senator over the on-again, off-again
North Inishowen Garda HQ in Carndonagh.
Senator Cecilia Keaveney recently said she was
infuriated at what she called the "quiet acceptance"
by local Gardai of a refurbishment to the old Carn
Garda Station instead of their promised new one.
She said Garda representatives did not mention the
need for a new station in Carn when they took part
in a national radio interview as part of their
recent conference.
"It was less than satisfying to hear on RTE Radio’s
Morning Ireland our own county Gardai mentioning a
number of stations, largely in West Donegal, and
ignoring the actual and urgent needs of Carndonagh
when they were interviewed as part of their recent
conference," said Senator Keaveney.
"The plight of other stations may well exist but, by
our own county representatives not acknowledging a
need in Carndonagh, it does not assist any campaign
that we in the area persist with," she said.
But Cllr Pádraig MacLochlainn yesterday took issue
with Senator Keaveney's comments and accused her of
"passing the buck".
"Any attempts to pass the buck or cloud the issue of
a 24-hour Garda station for North Inishowen based in
Carndonagh will not fool anyone. The facts are, that
four years ago, the then Deputy Keaveney, raced out
of the traps to announce the 24-hour Garda station
and to be the first to welcome it. |
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"This followed a
serious crime spree over months in the area which I,
my party colleagues, working in partnership with the
local Gardaí and the local community had played a
prominent role in confronting, including organising
a public meeting attended by hundreds in Quigley’s
Point," said Cllr MacLochlainn. |
“Now we can see that
those promises have been broken. Senator Keaveney
should keep the focus on her colleagues in
Government including the Ministers for Justice and
the OPW, Dermot Ahern and Martin Mansergh.
"Nobody in Inishowen believes that local Gardaí are
the issue. They know that this Government has
slashed investment in pubic services while bailing
out the banks."
In her earlier press release, Senator Keaveney said
she had received a letter from Minister with
responsibility for the OPW and garda buildings,
Martin Mansergh.
In his letter about the issue of Garda accommodation
in Carn, Mr Mansergh told her: "what is being
provided is a pragmatic, realistic and timely
solution to the needs that present themselves and is
one, which is fully endorsed by the Garda
authorities".
Senator Keaveney added: "The Minister clearly
indicates that the priority set by the Gardai is the
priority that the OPW work to. Therefore the recent
lack of mention of Carndonagh by the local Gardai
would suggest that the Minister’s assertion is
correct."
Meanwhile, she has written to the Garda
Representative Association on the issue of a new
Garda station in Carn and awaits its formal
response.
She has also asked Mr Mansergh to "produce the
response to offers of alternative accommodation (in
Carn) that have been presented to date". |
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