Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McConalogue has again expressed serious concerns about the future of policing in Co Donegal. According to the Donegal North East Deputy, it has never been more important to maintain a strong garda presence in the community.
His comments follow two burglaries over the weekend, during which sums of money were stolen from two ATMs at two service stations.
Deputy McConalogue said: “These weekend burglaries are a worrying development particularly in the wake of last week’s figures highlighting an increase in burglaries in the Letterkenny division.
“The situation is exacerbated by the ongoing threat from dissident republicans. While I appreciate the need to manage costs and reduce spending, closing garda stations and reducing garda numbers is not the way to do it.
“Crime rates tend to go up during times of economic difficulty. The role of An Garda Sícohána is crucial in preventing crime and enforcing law and order in times like this. We should be doing everything we can to maintain a strong and visible garda presence particularly in more isolated and rural communities, instead of reducing garda numbers.
“With so many gardaí expected to retire before February, I am calling on the Garda Commissioner to take a creative look at managing the situation rather than simply shutting down rural stations and cutting officer numbers.”
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