Deal close for new B'boro Garda station site

A new Garda Station for Bailieborough Town is understood to be in the process of being finalised, the Anglo-Celt can reveal.

The new District Headquarters for the Bailieborough area, which includes the towns of Cootehill, Kingscourt and Virginia, is set to be incorporated into the former National Irish Bank (NIB) building on Main Street once the deal is signed off.
To include the addition of a three-storey purpose built barracks to the rear of the historic banking premises, it will bring to an end a lengthy quest undertaken by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to provide a site for the long-awaited and much-needed development.

O’Higgins criticism
Brought under the An Garda Síochána Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021, the existing station was build in 1870 for the Royal Irish Constabulary, and the accommodation criticised heavily in the recent O’Higgins’ Report for a variety of reasons.
With 40 gardaí currently stationed in Bailieborough, according to recent Department of Justice figures, Judge O’Higgins had said there was general agreement the station was not fit for purpose.
Despite the addition of a two-floor pre-fabricated building in the station yard and work done to the interior of the building, the judge still stated: “It is not necessary to document all the defects or inadequacies in the garda station, which was in a run down and unfit condition.”
But he pointed out a list of notable defects including unsuitable reception facilities for processing prisoners, inadequate clerical officer work space, an unsuitable blood-urine-doctor’s room, as well as a sewage backup that causes a foul odour in the station.

Psychological boost
However, a breakthrough is now understood to be close, and though the NIB building is also listed, plans are afoot to extend to the back of the property, while maintaining the historic facade of the existing structure.
While also not a greenfield site, as identified by some initially as the ideal way forward, the new plan sees the headquarters remain in Bailieborough and also relocate to a more centralised location.
It is envisaged now there will be room allocated at the new station for vehicles and other garda equipment on site, and the imminent move represents a major psychological boost for the area, which has been embattled amid claims of garda malpractice.

Legal matters
While not confirming the location, a spokesperson for the OPW informed the Celt that a site has indeed been identified, but that the State department is in the process of “progressing the legal matters relating to the acquisition of the site”.
They added: “Until this acquisition is completed, we are not in a position to provide any details regarding the selected site, its ownership or any time-frames for development of the site.”
The new Bailieborough Garda Station is part of a national €60 million Garda building and refurbishment programme.