WORK IN PROGRESS BEGINS AS YOUGHAL’S FIRST JOINT POLICING COMMITTEE MEETS.

By Christy Parker

A venture into the unfamiliar was successfully negotiated when Youghal Town Council’s chamber hosted its first Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting on Tuesday May 10th. JPC’s are statutory bodies comprising representatives from the town council, the Oireachtas, An Garda and some community organisations. They are obliged to convene bi-annually to discuss matters relating to crime, anti-social behaviour and general policing in the community.

The Youghal meeting was held in the town hall following the monthly sitting of the town council. In attendance were the town clerk Liam Ryan, town councillors, David Stanton TD, Garda Inspector and acting Superintendent, Eoin Healy, Mary Daly-Walsh and Michael Dempsey, both of whom were community representatives of Rapid and the Residents’ Network and Lorraine Hogan, Rapid co-ordinator in Youghal. It was chaired by Mayor Mary-Linehan Foley.

There having been no precedent, an air of some uncertainty prevailed at the outset and as is their role, the gardai assumed control. Basically, the meeting largely consisted of Inspector Healy furnishing a detailed report on policing from the Garda perspective. The inspector being an articulate, commanding sort of man, an interesting and informative exercise transpired.

The inspector expressed hope that the committee would evolve into a decisive movement, driven by initiative and functioning in a spirit of active co-operation towards reducing crime and improving the quality of life in the community. Meanwhile, he delivered recorded crime statistics for 2011, relevant to the area spanning Youghal Bridge to Killeagh and all points left and right.

Inspector Healy said here had been nine burglaries in 2011 (down from 13 for same period in 2010), with two so far detected and “definite lines of inquiry” being pursued in two others. There were 27 recorded thefts (down from 40 last year), with 10 detected.

CCTV

The inspector said CCTV was highly significant in solving crimes, including theft from business. Ideally, footage would be quickly dispersed to help trace or intercept criminals, who might be en route to other locations soon after the crime. Unfortunately, shop owners were often either unavailable or unable when it came to downloading the evidence quickly. Sometimes the operation took a week frequently required Garda technicians to do it. “That has to change,” said the inspector who also urged every business with CCTV to install “one extra camera at the entrance to their premises.” Taken as a whole, this -community CCTV by proxy- would assist with gathering evidence and simultaneously discourage criminals from targeting Youghal.

Traffic:

The inspector said as little as 10 miles per hour could differentiate between a relatively minor and a fatal accident. He said there were Garda and robot (independently operated) speed surveillance vans operating in “collision-prone locations, adding that it had “absolutely nothing to do with generating revenue.” In deference to robot vans, he said statistical analysis helped to format subsequent policy, such as deploying Garda speed radar guns to an area. Three-year analysis data also influenced general tactics and deployments.

Alcohol:

Over 250 mandatory check points had been deployed in the Youghal urban area in 2011. These check points do not require gardai to form any advance opinion to breathalyse drivers. Positive tests amongst so called ‘morning-after’ drivers were statistically high, while mandatory testing had helped reduce the overall rate of drink-driving “quite significantly.” Inspector Healy said An Garda hoped eventually to be able to conduct such check points on a 24-hour rota but on a multi-purpose basis also.

Turning to concerns about ‘boy racers,’ the inspector said gardai now had equipment to define the legality of tinted windscreens and exhaust sounds. However loud noise does not necessarily denote speeding and a Garda project called ‘Operation Curb’ was dedicated to combating dangerous driving, such as ‘doughnut’ manoeuvres. “We target the 18-35 year olds as they predominate in that behaviour,” said the garda. “We may pull them first on something minor, like an italicised number plate. That  goes on our central records, so a second offence can lead to prosecution.”

Drugs

There had been 27 detections in Youghal, compared to 17 for the same period in 2010, while an average of 30 street searches are undertaken monthly. Heroin use had declined dramatically in Youghal and gardai were “very grateful to local district judges and court staff” for their role in this achievement. The inspector then gave a revealing insight into Garda tactics as per tackling drug crimes. “At the start of the year we target a certain number of specific individuals,” he said, “and then we try to get them off the streets for whatever reasons we can, such as no car insurance, whatever. Once in the court system we fast track their cases as best we can while applying Sect 2 of the Bail Act where possible to keep them in custody. We replace the names as proceedings evolve.” The inspector also spoke of using curfew legislation to keep younger people from being exposed to opportunity and from or undue influence by others.

Community Policing

Due reference was made to Garda Peter Queally, whose positive high profile as community garda through persistent interaction with local organisations and media outlets was lauded. “We are very grateful for that,” confirmed Inspector Healy.

Public order

Inspector Healy was adamant that a lot of underage drinkers acquired alcohol from home before consuming it elsewhere. “Drinking in the graveyard or park is bad in itself but it may also lead to involvement in other, serious crimes,” he warned. He said An Garda had undertaken on-going risk management projects for estates in conjunction with the local authority. This was working well, with laneways closed off and access to various ‘rat runs’ and drinking dens denied. The pub watch programme was also proving worthwhile, he observed, while again arguing for extra CCTV coverage in town to supplement policing.

Station hours

The inspector was at pains to reassure that “Youghal is well policed 24/7,” regardless of the station being closed at night. “The phones are manned in Midleton overnight, enabling extra gardai to respond to calls,” he explained. “How many passports or tax forms are we going to sign at night?” he asked rhetorically.

Concluding, the inspector said all present would be added to a Garda mailing list by which they could respond to a circulated request for ideas and opinions over the coming months prior to the next JPC meeting.

Comments

Cllr Tommy O’Connell commented that the prison services ‘revolving door system’ was not conducive to “taking people out of circulation.” He also averred that, from his experience (of others!) the pub watch system was not particularly effective. The inspector said the measure gave publicans an opportunity to bar someone from their premises if he so wished. However in many cases an individual would behave responsibly elsewhere once the threat of a general barring was present.   Mayor Linehan-Foley reflected that garda screening was of considerable benefit in preventing criminal or unsociable elements from taking up residence in council estates.

Cllr Barbara Murray remarked that business watch- a texting service that enables businesses to warn each other of impending problems- was also highly effective.  She then asked whether most CCTV units are connected to a central monitoring system. The inspector said many CCTV units are “finance-driven” and therefore are not centrally connected. He reiterated that lack of training and so on was causing download delays and, sometimes, the total loss of material. Inspector Healy elaborated that criminals are ‘professional’ and have their own networks and communication channels. If word spreads that Youghal is well monitored, most will opt to go somewhere else.

Deputy Stanton noted that the visible presence of gardai was very conducive to reducing crime. Inspector Healy concurred but claimed that sparse funding was not helping the cause, especially in regard to rural areas. Cars that reached 200,000 kms were being removed and not replaced and neither were motorcycles, he complained, adding, “We’ll make the most of whatever resources we have, and maintain high visibility.”

Cllr Murray asked whether gardai involved local engineers following traffic accidents. She was told that, especially regarding fatal accidents, gardai are obliged to contact the relevant local authority and also to submit a report to the NRA. Gardai also meet quarterly with local engineers to communicate any concerns regarding roads and to make recommendations.

Cllr Michelle Hennessy asked if crime in Youghal was relatively low and was assured that this was the case. She praised the ‘social interaction’ and high visibility of gardai in the community, such as that personified by Garda Queally.

Cllr Michael Beecher and Mayor Linehan-Foley poured further praise on the force before Inspector Healy, while graciously accepting the plaudits, voiced the hope that the forum would extend “beyond tell us how good we are” with the formation of an action plan in lieu of the next meeting.  Sub committees, if needed, could be formed to deal with individual tasks. The hour-long meeting ended to the promise of tea and sandwiches, the salad being particularly arresting.

The March meeting of Youghal and District Community Alert was held at 11 am in the Red Store on Tuesday March 1st. The attendance was small, possibly reflecting lapse promotion and/or a general satisfaction amongst the populace with the present level of security in the town.

Newly elected Sinn Fein TD Sandra Hennessy attended, as did her party colleague Cllr Michelle Hennessy and Fine Gael Town and County Councillor Barbara Murray. Fine Gael Town Councillor Michael Beecher was present as Chairman of the Community Alert group.  Guest speakers on the occasion were Peter Butler form TASK, a community care organisation that supplies, installs and monitors socially monitored alarms and Desmond Davis of the local Care and Repair service.

Community Garda Peter Queally commenced proceedings with a brief update on the situation regarding socially monitored alarms. He said over 40 applicants were represented in the current funding request to the Department of Community and Gaeltacht Affairs. He also revealed that a Garda representative will give presents talk on drugs at April’s Community Alert meeting. He added that a February presentation to Pobalscoil na Trionoide, at which drugs and drug-related paraphernalia were exhibited, had drawn a very positive response from parents and pupils alike.

Crime figures

Garda Queally then delivered a brief breakdown of crime statistics since the previous Community Alert meeting on February 1st. The figures showed there had been 29 persons stopped and searched for drugs and four premises searched under warrant. Ten persons were found in possession of drugs for personal use and two found in possession with intent to supply. The total street value of drugs seized in Youghal was €3,500, across cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy.

Other statistics included one assault causing harm and one common assault at a house party. As statements were not forthcoming, the gardai were effectively unable to proceed with investigation and/or prosecution. A file had been forwarded to the DPP in respect of a man accused of assault in a licensed premises in January. Two burglaries had been reported. Investigations were ongoing in regard to one burglary, at a holiday home in Cork Hill, in which household appliances were taken. The other burglary, at a licensed premises in which approximately €200 had been stolen, had been solved and a man was in custody.

The garda said there had been seven incidents of public disorder, with six arrests. Reported criminal damage cases amounted to six, with one detection. There were two reported thefts as follows: on February 14th a Lithuanian gang targeted a pharmacy in town. The gang are now in custody and are thought to have committed theft in pharmacies across  Munster over a prolonged period. The garda said they were suspected of using a distraction method to steal items such as perfume from the shelves. They had been in Youghal two months previous but had been recognised on their return. The second theft, on February 21st, invoved he larceny of high-powered, valuable batteries from a road sign in Garryduff.

Scams

The garda warned retailers to be alert to ‘a change scam’ in which foreign nationals –thought to be Romanian- have endeavoured to confuse shop staff with requests to change notes. The procedure is so highly well synchronised and complex that it victims may not realise for some hours that they have been conned. Another scam presently prevalent involves ATM’s, in which a plastic device known as ‘a mousetrap’ prevents the cash from exiting. The criminal removes the device –and the cash- after the mystified card holder departs. The services at Youghal’s TSB and Bank of Ireland had been targeted in recent weeks.

Socially monitored alarms

TASK representative Peter Butler then spoke of his organisation which, he said, was 32 years in business. Mr. Butler said one in three people over 65 suffer a fall per annum, increasing to a one in two chance amongst the over 80’s. Getting to a phone or summoning help could take some time, he surmised.

The speaker then reviewed the availability and functionality of the devices as follows: grant funding for socially monitored alarms is available for anyone of 65 years or over, including more than one such house occupant. They can also be purchased privately –from TASK and other sources- @ €250 (TASK price). An annual maintenance fee of €66 is required in each instance. It is essential that the user has a landline telephone socket in the house.

The base unit, about a foot square, is usually installed in a hallway. The user wears a two-way communication device, usually of a neck pendant or wristwatch design, known as a ‘panic button.’ Pressing the ‘panic button’ opens a two-way communication with the unit’s 24-hour monitoring personnel based in Dublin. On activating the system, the monitors have access to any conversation in progress in the house. Mr Butler outlined how valuable it was to activate the system when answering the door to a stranger, for example. In such instances, if the monitor overhears raised voices or any suspicious evidence, the gardai or a responsible key holder are alerted.

‘Like a man’

The user provides the monitoring station with three phone numbers representing family/house key holders. When the unit is activated, the monitoring operator first responds by voice. If the user does not reply or asks for help, the monitor will alert the key holders in order of preference to summon assistance. Should this prove unsuccessful for any reason, the gardai are summonsed.  In the words of her son, this level of security was memorably described by one elderly woman as “like having a man in the house!”

Mr Butler was keen to emphasise that accidental activation of the units was commonplace, was considered part and parcel of the process and did not inconvenience the monitors. He also advised that users test the device by activating it if and whenever they wished to do so. He further stressed the importance of wearing the pendant/watch at all times, citing incidents where people had failed to do so and had had to wait hours for assistance when unexpected accidents occurred.

Other aspects of the alarm units include 10 year batteries and a facility to warn the householder if the house temperature has fluctuated dangerously. Any number of pendant/watches can be acquired. The signal is operative up to 100 metres and indeed it was noted that an elderly lady who feel in her garden last winter was able to summon assistance that probably saved her life.

Smoke and CO2 alarms

Mr Butler also spoke on other devices, one of which was monitored smoke alarms. These worked similarly fashion to the accident equivalent, except that the monitoring station is automatically alerted when smoke activates the system. It was important, he said, to realise that when we sleep, our sense of smell shuts down, rendering it almost impossible to detect smoke. The service was also valuable when a householder was absent from the premises. These alarms cost €75 but similarly to the other alarm, grant assistance is available through the Seniors Alert Scheme. Mr. utler assured that he criteria of ‘living alone’ was not compromised by regular or overnight visits from family members etc. He advised that smoke alarms not be located in kitchens, where heat detectors are more appropriate.

Also featured were carbon monoxide detectors, which combat what Mr. Butler referred to as “the silent killer.” He said gas, oil and other posed a risk of exposure to carbon monoxide. He described various ways by which to lessen the danger; a) clean chimney, b) have boilers regularly serviced and beware of black deposits, c) ensure house is well ventilated. In this instance there were various levels of exposure –two hours’ exposure of 200 parts CO2 might cause headaches, 400 parts might bring nausea as well whereas 800 parts could cause unconsciousness. The detector sets off a signal once expose surpasses 300 parts. This alarm could be purchased privately for €100 but grant-aid was available for the over 65’s. (In fact all three alarms can be acquired with grant assistance under the Senior Alert programme. Any grant application needs submission of quotes from three distinct companies. The €66 annual maintenance fee covers any or all alarm systems and is not grant-aided) Application forms for all devices are available at Youghal garda station (Tele: 024-92200).

Mr Buler concluded his address with advice on how to minimise risk of falls: i) get eyes tested; ii) makes sure floor space is uncluttered; iii) wear safe shoes and iv) provide adhesive maths in bathroom.

Senior Alert Scheme

The Senior Alert Scheme is a project under which individuals or voluntary groups register for grant aid on behalf of individuals. Other grants provided under the scheme include coverage for outside home security lighting (€120), with dawn-to-dusk systems preferable to the sensor only version that a wandering cat is liable to activate! TASK contact number: (01) 8435889; Peter Butler 086-0568155; net: www.taskltd.com.

Caring and Repairing

In a comparatively brief address, Mr. Desmond Davies, from the Youghal Care and Repair service then spoke to the gathering. The Repair and Care initiative is a burgeoning success story in the Youghal community. It began a few months ago and presently 15 volunteers –including some females- are giving their time and efforts to the project. Mr Davies explained that the workers undertake minor jobs on behalf of the elderly (65+) and/or more vulnerable members of the community. Exemplary chores would include lawn mowing, changing bulbs, tacking carpets, installing locks or hanging curtains.

The householder provides the work materials and the volunteers provide the service free of charge.. “We work in pairs and member is first given garda clearance,” Mr Davies elaborated. The service does not undertake professional type tasks such as plumbing and electrical work and is not intended as an alternative to trades people. The speaker observed that some people preferred to make payment but he stressed than any financial donation “has to be small” while tokens of appreciation such as biscuits or cakes, are no less appreciated

Those wishing to avail of the Care and Repair service are asked to contact Cumann na Daoine on (024) 91900. “Anyone wishing to volunteer their services will be very welcome too,” he concluded.

The next Community Alert meeting is on Tuesday April 5th in the Walter Raleigh Hotel at 7.45 pm.

March’s Community Alert meeting took the form of a coffee morning/information morning which was held at the Red Store, North Main Street on Tuesday March 1st.
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

The company supplying the socially monitored alarms addressed the meeting while representatives of several other organisations also provided first-hand information and advice on relevant community services like the Care and Repair project held at the Cumann Na Daoine centre in Catherine Street. Community Garda Peter Queally gave an update on the successful Dial To Stop Drug Dealing project.

 

 

Further Inquiries: Sergeant John Sharkey at Youghal garda station (024) 92200 or Michael Beecher, Chairman of the Youghal Community Alert Group on 087-2349472

The meeting was preceded by a presentation from Managing Director of CARA ambulance Service Ltd., Conor McEvaddy and assistant Nessa Cashel from Youghal.  Conor, from Galway spoke of his wide experience in different business while testifying that his business partner and fellow Galwegian James O’Neil has had 16 years of involvement as a paramedic with the HSE, including three years as a training officer with HSE West and followed by two years as CEO with another private ambulance service.

Therein lies the background to CARA, established 18 months ago and with a base now at Foxhole.  The company choose the south of Ireland, Conor explained, due to a dearth of private ambulance services, with Youghal viewed as an ideal gateway to Cork and Waterford. Interestingly, comparatively low rents also influenced their decision to locate in Youghal.

A non-emergency response service, CARA currently provides a wide range of services to the HSE, private health insurance companies and event organisers of all kinds. All staff are fully qualified professionals, registered with Ireland’s regulatory body, the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council.

Medic-taxi

The managing director focused specifically on the company’s ambulance taxi service. These fully equipped, 14-16 seat, wheelchair accessible medic vehicles are designed to carry clients to all or any  medical-based destination. They are driven by a fully qualified paramedic, plus the option of a further medic in attendance. The driver may accompany the client throughout the appointment.  CARA also supplies medics, individually, to assist with any function or journey.

The taxi service operates at €1.20 per mile, while group hire reduces the cost per individual. A full ambulance & crew (for non-emergencies) costs €120 per call-out plus €3.60 per mile.

Events

The company’s brochure presents the following hourly rates for service at Events:  Emergency Ambulance €85 (Including two crew); response car €40; response bike:  €40: mobile medical unit: €30; Paramedic: €28; EMT (Emergency Medical Technician): €25.

Nessa Cashel added that the social welfare service “has facilities in place to reclaim a percentage of the medic taxi costs.” She elaborated also that the more successful the company becomes, the more recruitment the company would require. In response to query from the floor, she said CARA is currently negotiating with the VHI and other health insurance companies towards covering the taxi service costs.  Further details: (024) 85744; 1890-600999; www.caraambulanceservice.ie

Socially monitored alarms

PRO Sergeant John Sharkey said that in accordance with the government’s new scheme towards funding for socially monitored alarms, the group had ha to re-register, causing some delay in processing applications. At present, the only outstanding criteria was establishing a bank account as the scheme did not recognise credit union accounts for funding transfers. (Despite the shame on the banking sector, one might reflect!) Currently the group has about 40 alarm applications and the sergeant believed that funding would be granted for the first tranche of 15 in the coming weeks. The remaining applications will then be addressed similarly.

Murder Inquiry

Sergeant Sharkey referred to the recent murder of Michael O’Shea passed his condolences on behalf of the community alert group to relatives of the victim who were present. The sergeant praised the assistance given to the gardai by the townspeople as “fantastic,” through house to house inquiries, accommodation, witnesses’ co-operation and so on. “It all came together in a very early arrest and a man in custody at the moment, while the Book of Evidence is prepared for the DPP,” he concluded.   The suspect is due back in court in Youghal (for remand) on February 18th.

Appreciated

Relatives of the victim thanked the gardai sincerely for their handling of the case, before bestowing particular praise on Sergeant Sharkey for particular praise, for his ‘greatly appreciated” efforts that “went far beyond the call of duty.” Chairman Michael Beecher added that it was impressive to see the Superintendent and gardai displaying sympathy with the victim’s family through presenting themselves i n full uniform in the church.

Crime Figures

Sergeant Sharkey’s data on reported crime since the previous monthly meeting included one ‘assault causing harm ‘on the dance floor of a licence premises on Jan 16th. The victim required hospital treatment bit. “The case is progressing well,” he added.

Two burglaries included one at a business premises on Cork Hill at 6 a.m. on Jan 25th and probably conducted by a professional gang. The burglars arrived by car, were wearing balaclavas and having forced their entry via the front door, attempted to burgle a cigarette machine. However, they fled almost empty-handed when the alarm activated. A second burglary occurred at a private residence in Cork Hill on Jan 27th whereby a laptop and other goods were taken from a family who had been away.

Three criminal damages incidents included post stolen from communal post boxes at the Strand Palace on Jan 15th. Other crimes included theft of a battery from an electric fence at Lackaroe and a mobile phone from Aura.

Pub visits unearthed no incidents of late drinking, while there was one incident of underage drinking on the street. Eighteen on-street drug searches were conducted with one person found in possession and another in possession with intent to supply.

Scams

A more unusual crime involved a man –believed to be non-local- , who conned three financial institutions in the town on Jan 12th by passing off about 20 Thai Baht in bags pertaining to contain 100 €2 coins. “He made about €120,” reported the sergeant. It is perhaps testimony to the public’s present low regard for such institutions that sympathy amongst the attendance was largely for the perpetrator. “Let’s hope he wasn’t caught!”, someone voiced to much laughter.

The sergeant also described a crime whereby subsequent CCTV evidence depicted a woman failing to acquire money having used her bank link card. The user leaves with her card as the machine shuts down, before soon afterwards a man is seen to remove a silver cylinder from the bank slot, along with the mysteriously missing cash. “It’s called a cash trap, explained the sergeant, “but the machine turns of permanently once it happens and the bank replenishes the money to the customer’s account.”

Crime figures

The statistical figures for reported crime from January 4th to February 1st are as follows:

Assaults (1): Licensed premises;

Burglaries (2): Cork Hill and Gort Abhainn

Criminal Damage (4): Strand Palace, Upper Cork Hill, North Main Street, Summerfield

Drink Driving (1): Cork Hill

Drugs (2) North Main Street (possession), Unnamed apartment complex (possession with intent to supply)

Fraud (3): Post Office, Permanent TSB, Aib

Public Order Offences (6): O’Brien’s Place, North Main Street, Fishermans’ Dock, Strand Street, Chapel Lane and one unnamed location involving menacing phone calls.

Theft (4): Aura, Permanent TSB, Mill Road, Lackaroe.

Drug Searches (18) @ North Main Street, Catherine Street, Strand Palace Apartments, Cork Hill, Ballyvergan.

School raids and bicycles

A question from the floor asked whether the gardai were allowed to conduct spot checks in schools. Sergeant Sharkey said it would be a very rare occurrence and would in all probability be done in conjunction with the school or in accordance with specific information and under a search warrant. That said, the objective would be to avoid direct school involvement in drug investigations where possible.

Chairman Michael Beecher drew attention to groups of young people gathering at the post office, smoking and possibly drinking. He asked that the gardai keep “a close eye on their movements.” He also criticised the regular incidents of cycling on the footpath. The sergeant took note of his concerns, though he advised that young people in groups might feel accommodating but not be doing anything untoward. A speaker from the floor highlighted the danger to cyclists from motorists when they emerged from the shadows without lights, helmets or high visibility clothing. “If we do bring them home, “remarked the sergeant, “the parents’ attitude is often’ guard, have you nothing better to be doing?!”

Murder relatives upset by early disclosures

The meeting concluded with relatives of the late Michael O’Shea raising a serious issue regarding the aftermath of his murder in the flat complex at 85 North Main Street.  The speakers claimed that members of the public were aware, in considerable detail, of what had occurred in the location, before they had been disclosed to the victims’ family and relatives. Those thus informed included young children, amongst them relatives of the deceased, even prior to their reaching the school gates that morning, the meeting was told. They, along with the adult relations had been -and in several cases remained- very traumatised as a consequence of the manner in which news and specifics of the tragedy were circulated. The question as to how the details reached the public domain so quickly and so thoughtlessly was aired and it remains a matter of much speculation and considerable anger. “It’s a disgrace,” said one woman, with appropriate accuracy.

Information day

March’s Community Alert meeting will take the form of a coffee morning/information morning at the Red Store, North Main Street on Tuesday March 1st.  Secretary Kay Curtain said the company supplying the socially monitored alarms will address the meeting, while representatives of several other organisations will also provide first-hand information and advice on relevant community services. These will include Community Garda Peter Queally with an update on the successful Dial To Stop Drug Dealing project, the afore mentioned CARA ambulance service and the Care and Repair project. Meeting takes place at 11 am and all are invited. Inquiries: Sergeant John Sharkey at Youghal garda station (024) 92200 or Michael Beecher on 087-2349472

January’s meeting covered a two month period from the previous gathering, given that December’s meeting was cancelled due to weather conditions. PRO Garda Sergeant John Sharkey was unavailable to attend and Community Garda Peter Queally deputised in providing a review of the intervening crime statistics and commentary thereon.

Garda Queally began with reference to 11 thefts, including four from commercial businesses. Eight of them had been solved and were awaiting court proceedings. There had been 16 drug detections, with three people arrested for possession of drugs for sale and one arrest for cultivation. He said detection figures for intent to supply had become quite high since last September’s launch of the Dial to Stop Drugs scheme. “We’ve had a remarkable increase in such detections since the scheme was launched and it seems too much of a coincidence that they are not related,” he observed.

The Dial to Stop Drugs scheme revolves around the Freefone telephone number 1800 220 220, through which the public can supply information anonymously and without traceability to a drugs unit sited in the UK. The information is re-routed to the gardai and ultimately investigated.  The scheme relates to drug dealing as against drug consumption. Garda Queally noted however that there had been 12 arrests for possession since November’s meeting.

Drug successes

There had been 71 drug searches, proceeded the garda. He understood that innocent parties who were searched were not always pleased about it, but argued that this was an unavoidable aspect of the detection process, with the results justifying the means. The type of drugs detected were predominantly cannabis, with one incidence of cocaine for sale and supply. Garda Queally also advised that once a detection occurs, it can take up to a year for the wheels of justice to reach a court appearance.  In most instances, jail sentences are served on sale and supply convictions.

Garda Queally said his colleagues were addressing the drugs issue at every level, including delivering talks and information to secondary schools and parents. Parents had very much appreciated an address to a parents’ council meeting during which they were enabled to view drugs at first hand, he explained, concluding that, “a lot of schools make the mistake of omitting parents from drug education programs,” he concluded.

There were five burglaries since the previous meeting, three of which were from main street businesses. An individual had been arrested in relation to four burglaries and a file was being prepared for the DPP. A burglary at Ballymacoda Church remained unsolved.

Four incidences of criminal damage had occurred since November, most of which involved wanton damage property of a seemingly mindless and opportunistic nature.  There were three drink driving detections. Five public order arrests represented a low and pleasing statistic, especially for the time of year for the time of year and only one of those occurred over Christmas. There had been three assaults, including a young man attacked and robbed at an ATM, for which an arrest had been made.

Further analysis evolves as follows:

Thefts (11): The Mall, Millennium Industrial Park, Sports and Leisure, Amber filling station, Muckley’s Jewellers, Cara Ambulance (Foxhole), Knockaverry residence, Walsh’s Pharmacy and Fairfield (Dominic Collin’s Place).

Drug detections (16): Across Dun na Mara, Windmill Hill, Carlton Wharf , Strand Street,  Market Square and Carlton Village.

Burglaries (5): St. Mary’s Collegiate Church, Rendezvous Café, Genesis, Game Zone and Ballymacoda Church.

Criminal Damage (14): Across Ardrath, Bayview Grove, McCarthy’s bar, Church Street,  Ashe Street, Sacred Heart Convent, Coleman’s Garage, Lackaroe, Michael  T. Murphy’s (Sth Main Street) and Cork Hill.

Drink Driving (3): detected at Market Square, Quarry Road and Rincrew.

Public Order offences (5): Mall Lane, The Mall, North Main Street (2) and Nealon’s Quay

Assaults (3): North Main Street, Tallow Street and Friars Mews.

Beware bogus callers

The garda warned against bogus callers, which was a growing problem nationally. He said bogus water meter callers were particularly evident at present. The chairman Mr. Beecher advised that genuine callers, such as plumber, electricians, etc., should carry ID, especially when visiting areas where they would be unknown. Garda Queally recalled that a Vodofone operator had made himself known to the gardai that day, by way of informing them of his presence in advance of any calls they might receive from householders.  A lady from the floor immediately recalled that she had actually sent him packing that week in the now mistaken belief that he was a con man!

Socially monitored alarms

Garda Queally said an application for government funding for a second tranche of socially monitored alarms was now imminent. There were now 40 further applicants, following the initial provision of a similar number of alarms last year.  It needs noting that the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs have previously stated they will only provide funding for 15 or so alarms at one application (The original 40 were funded as the applications preceded legislation limiting the numbers.) The alarms are free via the community group except for an annual monitoring fee of approximately €60. Application forms remain available at the garda station and it was also stressed that individuals may apply for the alarms privately, in the sense that they can effectively buy them without recourse to grant aid. The cost is approximately €300, including installation.

Deceased, absent and coffee morning

The meeting also heard some discussion on the delicate issue of reclaiming alarms from deceased recipients. No specific procedure presently persists for such occasion. Assurances were also issued that renewed efforts are made to contact applicants regarding installation in the event of they being absent from home. It was also agreed to accept an offer from an alarm provision company to sponsor a coffee morning, at which a representative would deliver information on the system.  Further details of this will are expected at February’s meeting.

The next meeting occurs at the Walter Raleigh Hotel on Tuesday Feb 1st at 7.34 pm.