Gardai launch plan to ensure a happy Christmas in the city

GARDAI attached to Henry Street have launched their annual city centre Christmas operation in cooperation with the Mayor John Moran and Limerick City and County Council.

The focus of this operation are high-visibility patrols tackling shoplifting, aggressive begging, and drug related criminal activity. The council is funding an additional 200 hours of policing in the city centre this Christmas.

Gardaí will be patrolling the city centre until later evening hours daily and promptly deal with offenders in accordance with current legislation, practices and procedures.

Speaking about the operation, Superintendent Andrew Lacey of Henry Street garda station said the following: “Keeping people safe while shopping and socialising is our priority. We have had periodic meetings with our city centre traders and business over the last six months and we have explored the substantive problems that they are experiencing and we are working together to develop and evaluate tailor-made responses that our gardaí on the ground are implementing.”

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Mayor John Moran welcomed the policing plan for the festive period, saying: “Limerick City and County Council’s enhanced collaboration with An Garda Síochána reinforces our shared commitment to making Limerick a secure and welcoming place for all. A safer more community driven Limerick is a key objective of the Limerick Mayoral Programme.

“Together we are focused on delivering measures that improve people’s sense of personal safety on our streets and we are delighted to fund additional policing resources over the Christmas period. In advance of the introduction of community wardens on our streets in 2025, I am delighted to be able to contribute the funding which makes it possible to add 200 hours of extra Garda patrol time for Christmas.”

Cllr Kieran O'Hanlon, Cathaoirleach of the Metropolitan District of Limerick added: “We will all feel more secure in Limerick city this Christmas thanks to the comprehensive policing operation in place.”