Business group urges Minster for Justice to increase garda numbers in Limerick

GARDAI in Limerick should be moved away from the courthouse and onto the city centre's main shopping streets.

That's the view of Limerick Chamber members, who held a meeting with Justice Minister Helen McEntee this Wednesday morning.

Currently, 16 officers provide security at the Mulgrave Street court, but this building, Limerick Chamber says, should be "resourced differently", potentially with employees of private security firms.

Instead, frontline officers should police city centre streets, Chamber members believe.

Members of Limerick Chamber - the largest business representative group in the region with 400 members - spoke of the intimidating aspect criminal elements are having on customer and employees' sense of safety, alongside the costs to businesses arising from theft and anti-social behaviour.

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Chamber president Miriam O'Connor said: "Businesses feel an immediate difference when there is an increased visibility of on-street policing, and we asked the minister to allocate more resources to the Limerick division to ensure that gardai are better resourced in this regard."

"Restaurants, coffee shops, bars, retail outlets and visitor attractions are crucial for a vibrant Limerick. These businesses not only provide amenities and employment, they also help to attract other investment and skilled workers to live in Limerick. Right now, when operating costs have jumped up dramatically, it is crucial that everything possible is done to support keeping these businesses and jobs viable," Ms O'Connor added.

Chamber chief executive Dee Ryan said: "Issues of criminality and anti-social behaviour are not unique to Limerick, and the chamber appreciates that a multi-agency approach is needed to support vulnerable individuals. We have asked the minister for action to resolve this matter and to return the 16 gardaí from the courthouse to the Limerick division for deployment to other duties. This is an issue of grave concern to the business community."

The meeting was attended by prominent Limerick business people from the retail, hospitality and tourism sector.

They were joined by local TD, Minister of State Kieran O’Donnell, Senator Maria Byrne and Limerick's top garda, chief superintendent Derek Smart.