Minister criticised for Mayo snub

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has been heavily criticised for not meeting the chairman of the county’s Joint Policing Committee (JPC) during her recent trip to Mayo. The minister attended numerous engagements in Castlebar and Westport on Tuesday and Wednesday but the fact that she didn’t meet Councillor Al McDonnell has drawn the ire of some public representatives.

“There’s a huge increase in crime locally and nationally, yet she wouldn’t meet the chair of our JPC. What message does that send out? It’s simply not good enough,” Cllr Michael Kilcoyne stated at Wednesday’s meeting of Castlebar Municipal District.

“I’m very concerned about the number of gardai in our town. Recently, there was a Church of Ireland service here in Castlebar remembering all who had died during the pandemic and cars were broken into and valuables taken.

“People need to feel safe and then we have Helen McEntee saying she feels safe walking down through Dublin city with armed guards around her. Who is she kidding?

“It’s unbelievable what’s happening and what she’s allowing to happen. The guards on the ground are at the end of their tether and if the commissioner or the leadership of the guards aren’t doing their job, then it’s up to her (Minister McEntee) to sort it. 

“The fact that she wouldn’t meet Cllr McDonnell, the chairman of our county’s JPC while she was here in Mayo says all you need to know. It’s more than disappointing,” Kilcoyne added.

 
He was supported by Cllr Blackie Gavin who said the minister should certainly have met Cllr McDonnell, the leader of a very active JPC.

However, Fine Gael members of the council disagreed and said there had been no need for the minister to meet Cllr McDonnell.

“The three Fine Gael members here, Cllr Deere, Cllr Bourke and myself met Minister McEntee last night and had a long discussion with her about what’s required. There was no need for her to meet anyone else. We got the message across in no uncertain terms,” Cllr Donna Sheridan stated.