A LIMERICK TD expressed fears that tensions between feuding drug gangs in the city will explode unless the Department of Justice signs off on a contract to keep CCTV cameras switched on.
Labour TD Conor Sheehan said senior Gardaí informed him there had been an increase in tit-for-tat gun attacks as 17 shootings associated with feuding were noted in Limerick up to July.
Deputy Sheehan said an application by Limerick City and County Council to retain an existing network of CCTV cameras, live monitored from Moyross Community Enterprise Centre, has been with the Justice Department since July 30.
A statement sent by An Garda Síochána to Deputy Sheehan on August 8, seen by this reporter, informed the Limerick TD that the application had been forwarded to the Department on July 30.
“This is dragging on, because the application has been with Minister Jim O’Callaghan’s department since the end of July, and we’re now coming towards the end of September and a decision has not even been taken on the funding for the CCTV,” Deputy Sheehan said.
“The Minister needs to get a grip on this and approve the funding, because this is essential for the ongoing safety of people and the future policing of Limerick.”
Deputy Sheehan said “Gardaí have told me that, if (the CCTV) is not retained, it would be like losing 20 Gardaí”.
“These cameras are really important for policing and the safety of the people,” he added.
Deputy Sheehan said he welcomed a recent batch of 20 Garda recruits for the city, but warned: “It’s also an acknowledgement that we have a number of serious issues in certain areas of the city, and if we didn’t get that additional allocation of Gardaí specifically for the city, we were going to be looking at a feud again.”
“That’s not me being hyperbolic, it’s a fact. We’ve had 17 shootings so far this year, that I am aware of, possibly more by now. Senior Gardaí told me that at the start of July,” said Deputy Sheehan.
“The main state of CCTV was funded by the Department of Housing, through Regeneration, which is winding down with the social intervention funding being phased out.”
Responding to a request for comment from this reporter, the Department of Justice said it had “received a business case from An Garda Síochána in relation to the CCTV scheme in Moyross which is currently being funded from other sources.”
The Department spokesperson said that “the business case is being considered”.
Limerick City and County Council was asked for comment.
