Mayo councillor highlights lack of garda presence in Achill to Justice Minister

An Achill councillor recently met with the Minister for Justice where he called for additional garda resources to police the parish during the year.

Cllr Paul McNamara met with Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan in Ballina earlier this month where he highlighted the lack of a Garda presence in Achill especially during the busy tourism season in the summer.

Only three Gardaí are based in Achill on a permanent basis but they are often called upon to cover other areas in the Westport garda district which leaves the parish without a garda presence. 

The retirement of Garda Martin O'Reilly in November meant that only three members now cover the entire parish and there is no indication that his vacancy will be filled.

In a meeting facilitated by Mayo-based TD, Minister Dara Calleary, Cllr McNamara stressed to Minister O'Callaghan how the full-time presence of only one Sergeant and two gardaí is the lowest it has ever been for the popular tourist destination. 

“Achill, for most of the year, has a population of close to 3,000 people, many of them old, vulnerable and living alone. That alone warrants more than three gardaí. However, during the summer months and at other holidays, that population can increase to far north of 10,000 people and yet there are still only three gardaí expected to serve the community. That’s the population of an average town,” he said.

READ: Údaras na Gaeltachta win appeal to amend €15,000 retention penalty for Belmullet building

The Fianna Fáil councillor commended the work of the three gardaí based in the parish who he said do extraordinary work 'given how stretched they are'.

“I told him [Minister O'Callaghan] about the Gardaí in Achill reporting to the Achill station for work and having to go straight to Westport to cover other areas leaving Achill unpoliced. This is happening on a regular basis,” he said.

Cllr McNamara described the meeting with the Justice Minister as very positive and looks that by highlighting the issues directly with him, it will result in more gardaí on the ground in Achill.

“I want to thank both Ministers for taking the time to meet with me and I hope that my concerns have been listened to by Minister O’Callaghan. It was a very positive engagement, and he has committed to further engagement with me on this.”