Meeting to take place on Kilnaleck station

Senior gardaí will meet with members of the Kilnaleck Development Association this week to discuss the operational status of the local garda station. A senior Garda confirmed the meeting to The Anglo-Celt.

Questions were raised over the status of Kilnaleck Garda Station at the December meeting of Cavan County Council.

The matter was raised by Cllr Trevor Smith (FG). He asked the council to seek clarification from the Minister for Justice on what’s being viewed as the downgrading of the station.

When asked for clarification on the matter, a spokesperson from An Garda Siochána said: “Kilnaleck is an operational Garda Station with sworn members of An Garda Síochána operating full time out of Kilnaleck Garda Station.

“The Kilnaleck area is served by 24-hour public office stations at Bailieboro and Cavan.”

The spokesperson added that An Garda Síochána is “committed to maintaining a visible presence patrolling our communities keeping people safe".

They also said: “Every member of An Garda Síochána required to remain inside a garda station to keep a public counter open is a member of An Garda Síochána that cannot be patrolling and engaging in their community, providing a visible presence and involved in promoting road safety and interdiction of criminal activity.”

The spokesperson advised that, where a member of the public needs to speak with a garda, contact can be made through the Garda District Headquarters, which are open 24 hours, and are identified on the Stations Directory section of the Garda website.

“In emergency situations such as crime in progress, or urgent Garda assistance is required, members of the public should always call 999/112.

“An Garda Síochána operates a Regional Control Room strategy, which ensures that Garda resources are available to respond to calls for service from the public,” they concluded.