GARDAÍ told Limerick councillors that they are on the city beat tackling anti-social behaviour and the ongoing drug scourge in Limerick City, despite resourcing issues.
That’s according to Superintendents Andrew Lacey (Henry Street) and Oliver Kennedy (Roxboro Road), who told city councillors that, as of last year, two additional Gardaí were added to on street patrol Monday through Saturday.
It is understood, however, that the Gardaí were redeployed from other areas of the Limerick Garda Division, which is facing increasing resourcing demands, with no overtime for one of its largest operations in the city.
This comes amid reports of “acute addiction” to crack cocaine and heroin, with people from the wider Mid West travelling to the city and the King’s Island area to buy illegal drugs.
Superintendents Lacey and Kennedy met with councillors form the Metropolitan District to discuss ongoing Garda initiatives to tackle drugs, anti-social behaviour, and criminality in the city centre and its environs.
Operation Merile, they told councillors, has a focus on tackling theft, drug offences, aggressive begging, unauthorised vehicle use (including bikes and e-scooters), and anti-social behaviour.
They also highlighted a specific ongoing operation targeting organised retail crime, Operation Táirge, which uses an intelligence-led approach in supporting local retailers.
However, the Superintendents also noted increasing demands on Garda resources, highlighting a gap between operational needs and the actual available support they have at hand.
City councillors were told that Operation Feabhsaigh, focusing on the St Mary’s and King’s Island areas (which face serious challenges from crime and social deprivation), has no overtime allocation funding.
During the meeting, Gardaí confirmed that additional resources have been requested for the area.
Councillors were also briefed on Operation Gealbhan, launched in response to an ongoing violent and destructive feud between two groups on the city’s south side, including high-visibility evening and night-time patrols, and support from specialised units including the Armed Support Unit.
More positively, Gardaí noted burglary was down more than 50 per cent in the city centre and south side in recent months.
Cathaoirleach of Limerick Metropolitan District, Fine Gael Cllr Daniel Butler, said that councillors continue to call for increased Garda resources, and thanked the Superintendents for “their unwavering commitment to public safety.”
“The people of Limerick have shown remarkable resilience in the face of past challenges. I am confident that with continued community support and properly resourced Gardaí, we can overcome the current issues as well.
Sinn Féin TD for Limerick City Maurice Quinlivan also raised in the Dáil this past week what he described as a “lack of Gardaí in Limerick City and the perceived lack of a Garda response”.
“In recent days, I have spoken to many community leaders who have all used the same words – ‘tense’, ‘fear’, and ‘dread’ – to describe the situation. It is not fair that communities are left like this.”
Deputy Quinlivan said that “this week alone, I was contacted by several constituents”.
“One said a car was speeding around the area all day and there were no Gardaí about. Another resident said that five motorbikes were speeding around doing wheelies since that morning and they could not get through to the Garda station.”
The Sinn Féin TD called on Tánaiste Simon Harris to allocate more Garda recruits out of Templemore to Limerick.
He also asked for the Tánaiste’s support with an application for CCTV for the Garryowen area in an effort to curb anti-social behaviour.
The Tánaiste responded that “Limerick was one of the first areas in the country to get bodycams” for Gardaí, adding that the first conviction in Ireland as a result of bodycams was also secured in Limerick.
Deputy Harris told Deputy Quinlivan that he would pass on the request for additional CCTV for the Garryowen area to the Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan.