More gardaí needed for big occasions

The issue of additional garda resources will be raised at the next Cavan Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting “especially during big occasions” after a video of street fight in Ballyjamesduff on St Patrick’s night appears to show a person armed with an implement.

The almost 30 seconds of footage, subsequently shared widely on social media and seen by The Anglo-Celt, shows a melee of people on Dublin Street, with punches thrown and at least one person being kicked on the ground.

Towards the end of the clip it appears to show a male holding what is known as ‘friction stick’ or telescopic baton, before being led away from the scene by others.

Local Fine Gael Councillor Trevor Smith says the reports of what happened are “alarming”, and he intends to raise the need for more garda patrols with Cavan Monaghan Division’s Chief Superintendent, Alan McGovern, when he next meets members of Cavan JPC.

According to the latest Department of Justice figures available, up to the end February 2023, there were 380 gardaí serving in the Cavan-Monaghan Division, up a little over 14 per cent on a decade ago.

Last year the Cavan-Monaghan Division was allocated four new garda patrol cars, and two vans. Nine cars were removed from service use in 2022.

Cavan/Monaghan meanwhile received two probation gardaí in the last graduation (January), and six for all of 2022. The number is significantly down from a height of 45 in 2019, and 35 the year before that.

“There needs to be a greater garda presence in towns across the county, especially during big occasions,” said Cllr Smith.

The Anglo-Celt understands gardaí did attend a scene following a reported public order incident in Ballyjamesduff town centre on Friday, March 17. But there were no complaints made, nor arrests carried out.

A spokesperson informed: “Gardaí responded to reports of an incident on Dublin Street, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, on the night of 17th March 2023. Proactive policing was conducted in the area. No offences were disclosed.”

It was one of several incidents to happen locally over the St Patrick’s Bank Holiday weekend.

In Cavan Town gardaí dealt with a total of six public order incidents, including one on St Patrick’s night.

They also responded to three domestic assaults and three thefts from shops.

Two suspected drink drivers and one drug driver were also arrested over the three-day period.

Cavan Roads Policing Unit arrested one suspected drink driver in the Ballinagh area. Similarly another driver was arrested in Kingscourt.

Gardaí meanwhile are appealing for witnesses following a reported robbery of a mobile phone from a person in the Drumalee area on Friday, March 17.

Elsewhere, a person has appeared before the courts charged in relation to a criminal damage incident in Cavan Town on Saturday, March 18.