Adams appeals for information on killing of Garda Donohoe
March 10, 2013
Sinn Féin Louth TD, Gerry Adams and party colleagues Councillors Edel Corrigan and Jim Loughran, met senior garda for North Louth in Dundalk on Friday.
The meeting discussed the garda investigation into the killing of Garda Adrian Donohoe; Garda resources in the region, including cuts to garda numbers; fuel laundering; and community policing in north Louth.
Speaking after the meeting Teachta Adams described the meeting as “very useful”.
The Louth Depute said:
“I made clear to the garda representatives Sinn Féin’s support for their efforts within the region and in particular their investigation into the killing of Garda Adrian Donohoe.
“I want to specifically appeal again for anyone with any information about the killing of Garda Donohoe to bring that forward to either the Garda or the PSNI.”
The Sinn Féin delegation also raised the issue of fuel smuggling and fuel laundering which continues to pose a serious criminal and environmental threat to the people of the border corridor. They expressed concern at the lack of convictions following the discovery of fuel laundering plants.
Teachta Adams said:
“Fuel smuggling and laundering costs both states on this island a significant amount of revenue each year. However, the sludge that remains after the laundering process is complete poses a particular environmental threat, as well as an additional and expensive cost to Louth County Council.
“The Sinn Féin delegation expressed our concern at the lack of convictions following the discovery of fuel laundering plants. This is an issue that we intend raising with customs who are the lead agency in these investigations.”
“The meeting also discussed community policing which the garda acknowledged their continued commitment.
“The Sinn Féin delegation raised a concern over garda resources. In a parliamentary response to Teachta Adams in January the Minister for Justice had revealed that last year there was a drop of 21 in the number of gardaí based in Louth. They number of gardaí dropped from 311 to 290 with Drogheda and Dundalk taking the brunt of the loss.
“The gardaí also have only one car to cover the area between Culloville and Omeath. If this is called to another area then there is no garda vehicle covering this border area. This is a cause of concern for those living in the area.
Teachta Adams said:
“The people of north Louth deserve the same level of police support and protection that would be the accepted norm in urban areas. The Garda clearly require additional resources to achieve this.”
QUESTION NOS: 801 & 804
DÁIL
QUESTIONS addressed
to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)
by
Deputy Gerry Adams
for WRITTEN on Wednesday,
16th January, 2013.
*
801. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide
a breakdown of current Garda numbers for each of the stations in
County Louth and a comparative figure for Garda numbers when he came
to office..
- Gerry Adams
* 804. To ask the Minister
for Justice and Equality the impact on County Louth in relation to
the cuts announced for An Garda Siochána in Budget 2013; if there
will be a reduction in Garda numbers in County Louth as a result of
these cuts; if he will detail those reductions..
- Gerry
Adams
REPLY.
I
am informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of
each Garda Station in the Louth Garda Division, on 28 February 2011
and 30 November 2012, the closest dates for which figures are readily
available, was as set out in the table below.
Louth Garda Division
28/02/11
30/11/12
Ardee
30
28
Castlebellingham
3
4
Collon
6
6
Louth
1
1
Clougherhead
4
3
Drogheda
99
94
Dunleer
5
5
Blackrock
5
4
Carlingford
6
6
Dromad
7
7
Dundalk
132
123
Hackballscross
8
5
Omeath
5
4
TOTAL
311
290