Rural garda stations face threat of closure

By Conor CULLEN

Wednesday April 22 2009

TWO RURAL Wexford District Garda Stations are facing a threat of closure, along with another four across the county.

The fate of 236 ' oneman' rural stations – including Glynn and Baldwinstown Garda Stations – will form the focus of a new national review of bases set up by Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy.

There are six stations in all in Co. Wexford coming under the focus of the Garda review, the others being Oylegate, Oulart, Kiltealy and Ferns. However, there are currently two officers based in both Oylegate and Ferns.

A spokesman for the Gardaí in Wexford said they have, as yet, not been contacted regarding the future of Glynn and Baldwinstown Garda Stations and indicated that, to date, the review seems to be solely at 'a political level'.

'It has come as a bolt out of the blue to us,' said the Garda spokesman, who confirmed that both of the Garda Stations currently have one officer working out of them full-time.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern is currently finalising tough new measures that will give the Gardai significantly increased powers to combat gangland criminals. However, there are fears the focus on urban crime will leave isolated areas of the country vulnerable to criminals who are increasingly preying on rural businesses and families.

Rural Garda Stations have suffered a major decline in recent years as the force increased the number of officers in urban bases. Many have fallen into serious states of disrepair as the Government refused to invest in stations in isolated areas of the country.

'They (Government) see the future of the Gardai all in centres of population and, like the cavalry in the Wild West, making a foray into bandit country every so often. That's their ultimate goal,' said Garda Representative Association President Michael O'Boyce.

'There is no ambiguity in our policy – every Garda Station in the country is needed and should be maintained,' he added.

- Conor CULLEN