Kerrane calls for increased Garda presence in Ballinasloe
A call for an increase in the number of Gardaí serving Ballinasloe has been made by Roscommon-Galway Sinn Féin Deputy, Claire Kerrane.
The Sinn Fein Deputy made the plea in the Dáil during a recent parliamentary questions session following an escalation in the number of anti-social behaviour incidents in the town.
Deputy Kerrane stated that constituents visiting her weekly clinic in Ballinasloe are "suffering" during what has become a "challenging time" in Ballinasloe.
"As time goes by I have lost count of the number of times when I go into my clinic and I am faced with residents who are there to tell me of the events and activities of the weekend. A number of residents were in with me this week to tell me about two cars that were burned out in a housing estate in Ballinasloe.
"This is not an isolated incident. It is ongoing in the town of Ballinasloe and it is having an incredible impact on a number of housing estates, from Hymany to St. Grellan's to Meadowbrook to Curragh Park, and there are others. In the last few weeks to months we have had cars burned out, a carjacking and attempted arson attacks.
"In the past few weeks alone, there has been a shooting and open fighting and violence, with the use of weapons including machetes, swords and iron bars. This has all happened publicly and in the open and there has been and continues to be open drug use. Families and other residents, good, decent people, are being terrorised in their homes and community," the Deputy said.
The Deputy said she is continuously liaising with the local Gardai and has "fought hard" to establish an anti-social task force in Ballinasloe.
"I am not talking about leaving this solely to An Garda Síochána and that was the idea behind the antisocial behaviour task force. The gardaí in Ballinasloe are under incredible pressure and need more support.
"What I am looking for as part of what has to be done, which is wider, is more gardaí. We need the visibility and to build up community policing, including the relationships between communities and gardaí on the ground. We are not seeing them in Ballinasloe," Deputy Kerrane said.
The Deputy said that "while on the face of it", 52 gardaí in the Ballinasloe District "looks good", there are "single-digit numbers of gardaí in Ballinasloe on a day-to-day basis".
"According to crimestats.ie, crime rates in Ballinasloe are approximately 79% above the national average and the number of gardaí in the town does not reflect that. I am not talking about gardaí coming in after an incident, which has happened repeatedly. I am talking about a sustained, specific Garda operation for Ballinasloe because too many good, decent people are being affected by anti-social behaviour," Deputy Kerrane added.
The Deputy stated that it was "extremely hard" to sit across from people, particularly older people, and reassure them, as an elected representative for the town, "when this keeps happening".
"People are being terrorised. They are being tormented. People are selling their family homes and leaving the area they love. That is happening now. The bottom line is that Ballinasloe is a wonderful town with wonderful people, but people are struggling seeing the town they love go the way it is going," the Deputy stated.