Text messages address rumours that garda station in Limerick village is facing closure

A HEATED exchange broke out among councillors at the February meeting of the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District amid speculation that Adare garda station could be closed.

Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey raised the matter at the monthly meeting calling on the district to apply “critical pressure” to keep the station open, saying his phone had not stopped ringing from worried constituents.

The former chairman of the Limerick Joint Policing Committee suggested the station is at risk of being closed following a recent inspection by the OPW.

“The gardai themselves are not the issue, it is capital issues at the garda station that are the problem,” he said.

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Responding to the councillor, Vincent Murray, Director of Service for the district, explained it was the first time he heard of the rumoured closure and stressed there had been “no formal public statement” from An Garda Siochana.

Cllr Bridie Collins, who lives in Adare, appealed to councillors to refrain from responding to rumours adding there is “no indication that the station is closing”.

Councillor John O’Donoghue agreed, saying the priority was “to get to the bottom of this and establish facts”.

Later in the meeting, Cllr O’Donoghue interrupted a discussion on a separate motion to say he had received a text message from Superintendent Michael Fleming confirming that while essential works are planned for Adare garda station, there are “no plans to close it”.

Cllr Ger Ward then interjected saying he could “do one better”.

He said he had received similar correspondence from Chief Superintendent Derek Smart who confirmed (in a text message) that Adare garda station is not closing, but that refurbishment works are planned in conjunction with the Office of Public Works ahead of the Ryder Cup.

Councillors at the meeting agreed they would contact the OPW to seek further clarification.