Anger at reduced hours in Ballyconnell Garda Station

The community has expressed anger over the lack of consultation regarding plans to only open Ballyconnell Garda Station to the public for four hours per day.

The station, once a HQ with its own district and open 24 hours a day, will now only open from 7-9am in the mornings and 6-8pm in the evenings.

The change came into effect from Bank Holiday Monday last, March 18, and was first advertised by way of a notice placed on the door only the Saturday before, March 16.

A meeting of Ballyconnell Town Development members took place on Tuesday night, March 19, to discuss the fallout. One possibility discussed at the meeting is the potential for a larger community meeting to take place.

Fine Gael councillor Peter McVitty says people are “shocked” by the decision to close the station to the public outside of several hours in the early morning and again in the evening.

“This is something I am completely opposed to,” said Cllr McVitty, who was also due to raise the development for discussion at a meeting Cavan-Belturbet MD members yesterday afternoon (Tuesday).

“This cannot be allowed to happen. It is too big an area, stretching from Belturbet all the way to Dowra, and Carrigallen to the border,” says Cllr McVitty who spoke with Cavan Town Superintendent John Callanan.

“I understand that things have changed in how people report crimes and other matters, but this is a massive area with a huge population. This has happened with no consultation and it's not good enough.”