New garda sergeants for Kilmaine and Partry

Ciara Galvin

THE appointment of sergeants to Kilmaine and Partry garda stations will significantly help in  ongoing crime prevention strategies. That is according to Chief Superintendent Pat Diskin who made the announcement yesterday (Monday).
Sergeant Gerry Flannery will take up his role as sergeant in Partry on November 24. Sergeant Mark Crehan will undertake his role as sergeant in the Kilmaine garda area on November 24 also.
Both sergeants had been stationed in Castlebar for the past number of years.
There has not been a sergeant stationed in Kilmaine for a number of years and SeΡn Joyce of the Kilmaine Community Alert group described the new appointment as ‘excellent news’.
“We certainly do welcome it. The garda station is meant to be manned every day for an hour but because of man power this couldn’t happen,” said Mr Joyce.
He continued, “Mark would have local knowledge as he lives here and was previously stationed in Kilmaine. It will help with local fears and it will be good from the point of view of people passing on information to Mark.
“It’s great for the community, they’ll be delighted , especially because he will have local knowledge and he is awful approachable … With all the raids going on recently this can only be a positive,” concluded Mr Joyce.
Commenting on the appointments Chief Supt Diskin said both sergeants will bring ‘huge value and experience to their respective areas of responsibility’.
“The allocation of sergeants to Partry and Kilmaine will significantly enhance ongoing crime prevention strategies in respect of rural crime,” said Diskin.