Gardaí in Limerick receive 100 calls a day

THE LIMERICK garda division is the busiest in Munster, receiving at least 100 calls a day, a senior officer has said.

Superintendent Andrew Lacey, who is based at Henry Street garda station in the city centre, revealed the number at a council meeting organised off the back of an increase in anti-social behaviour across the urban area.

“Across the province, the Limerick division gets the highest number of call-outs. We are talking at least 100 calls a day,” said Supt Lacey.

The figure was revealed after Fianna Fail councillor Kieran O’Hanlon complained at being put through to a station outside Limerick when attempting to contact the gardai locally.

“The system of calling Henry Street is unsatisfactory at the moment. Calls are being directed to Cork where some fella has no idea where Raheen or Rhebogue is,” he said.

The meeting, held at County Hall in Dooradoyle, heard calls for a new garda station to be located in Castletroy.

The government has the facility in its capital plan, but it's ultimately Garda Commissioner Drew Harris who will decide if it goes ahead.

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More than 2,000 people have signed a petition led by Cllr Joe Pond and Willie O'Dea, TD, urging him to green-light the facility.

However, Supt Lacey warned: “Having a station is one thing, having gardai to staff it is another. We have a state-of-the-art custody suite in Henry Street. Maybe there is not a need for a full garda station in Castletroy, perhaps just an office.”

He confirmed that officers are receiving mountain bike training to allow them access public footpaths in quick order.

It comes after a number of members identified greenways as an area which are attracting scrambler bikes being driven at speed.

Councillor Catherine Slattery who organised the meeting said these bikes are “destroying” the city, while Cllr Sean Hartigan warned of a “breakdown of law and order in Limerick.”

Supt Lacey told council members there has been a 160% year-on-year upsurge in the unauthorised taking of vehicles.

He also said there has been an annual rise of 117% in terms of behavioural warnings issued by gardai this year.

This is the first step which must be taken before an anti-social behaviour order can be issued from the courts.