IT HAS already been commended by several security experts and will be imitated by many more.
And when Limerick city and county council meet on this Thursday evening to recognize the success of Limerick Gardaí in tackling the city’s criminal gangs, it will mark another milestone in the restoration of normality to a once-fractured community.
The treaty city is finally reaping the benefits of optimism, hope, and above all, confidence in the future.
Limerick is moving to a state of recovery and of healing since its criminal gangs were tackled and taken down. The city is coming back to life and while many challenges have still to be overcome, local communities have regained as sense of pride and structure.
Those charged with safeguarding the public, restoring peace and upholding our system of justice have proven more than worthy of our trust and respect.
And now that green shoots are emerging, we must rely on them again.
We must trust that upfront effective policing will stem any move back to the dark days of fear that old wounds could be reopened and old emotions revived.
We must trust that Limerick will remain on the path to recovery and capitalise on a decade of work and sacrifice by the men and women of An Garda Siochana who have served the city so well.
This Thursday’s civic reception, recognising their dedicated and unselfish contribution to successfully combating criminality and supporting local communities will be a tangible reminder of the appreciation felt by the ordinary citizens of the city.
It is not a time for complacency, just as it was never a time for back-patting for the senior Gardaí and veteran members of the force who have seen the worst that Limerick’s gangland feuds produced.
Chief Superintendent David Sheahan has consistently warned of the importance of not letting the void created by the imprisonment of the major gang leaders be filled by a new generation of criminals.
And, given their record of success over the past decade, it’s more than likely that Limerick’s Garda force is well up to the task.
