Meeting promised

Superintendent will meet community leaders about monitoring concerns

Áine Ryan

GARDAÍ in Belmullet have been accused of exceeding their duties and of not policing impartially, after they monitored a community meeting held by the recently-formed group, Pobal Chill Chomáin on Wednesday night last, June 25. However, Supt John Gilligan told The Mayo News yesterday (Monday) that while his gardaí were briefly present on a routine operation, he was happy to meet group leaders to clarify matters.     
Pobal Chill Chomáin was recently established to research and promote the possibility of the relocation of the controversial Corrib gas refinery – as proposed by three local priests – to an onshore site at Glinsk. Royal Dutch Shell last week dismissed such an option in a letter to the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility – a community-oriented corporate watchdog.
In a letter, seen by The Mayo News – and which Supt John Gilligan received yesterday (Monday) – concerns are expressed about the fact that two known gardaí were seen driving past and appeared to be noting the registrations of cars, whose occupants were attending the meeting in the Glenamoy Community Centre.
Written by Acting Chairman, Mr Vincent McGrath, the letter states: “At about 9.10pm a message came through to the meeting that a car (not a Garda car) carrying two members of An Garda Síochána was seen driving slowly past the community centre and the occupants appeared to be taking the numbers of the cars parked outside. One of the occupants of the car was identified as Garda Brett, well known to members of the local community. Garda Brett was in plain clothes although the other occupant appeared to be wearing a blue Garda shirt.”
Mr McGrath then observes that confirmation by Supt Gilligan on local radio last week that there was a ‘routine’ Garda monitoring of the meeting was ‘very disturbing’.
“Is it Garda practice to conduct surveillance on community meetings in our parish? If so, why? On what basis do the Gardaí view meetings of Pobal Chill Chomáin as warranting monitoring and surveillance? Do they regard public discussion of the Corrib gas project as potentially being a criminal activity?” the letter asks.
It continues: “As a community police force, it would be very unfortunate if An Garda Síochána has allowed itself to become just another facilitator for the Corrib gas project. Many people in our community do not believe that An Garda Síochána is operating as an impartial police force on this issue and the incident outside our meeting place only serves to reinforce that view.”
The group also offers, in the communication, to facilitate a meeting between the Gardaí and the local community in an effort to resolve and clarify ‘any mutual misunderstandings’.
“It is the job and duty of the Gardaí to monitor communities in general. On the night of the meeting there was a Garda presence, very briefly,” said Supt Gilligan.
“I will be responding to this letter and confirming that I am willing to meet a delegation from the group to discuss issues highlighted,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Dr Mark Garavan has welcomed confirmation by the EU Parliament Petitions Committee that it has asked for further information from the EU Commission about the project.