Garda station in Kilnaleck downgraded?

Questions are being asked about the status of the garda station in Kilnaleck.

The matter was raised at the December meeting of Cavan County Council on Monday of this week by Cllr Trevor Smith (FG). He’s asked the council to write to the Minister for Justice for clarification on what’s being viewed as the downgrading of the local garda station.

The motion was seconded by Cllr Winston Bennett: “We don’t want to lose any more guards in our area.”

Mullagh’s Shane P O’Reilly (II) fumed that the downgrading of the station in Kilnaleck “has happened”.

“The time for writing to the Minister was three months ago,” he remarked, adding that Kilnaleck Garda station will “fall foul”.

He highlighted how the community had already lost their credit union, bank and post office. “It is a disgrace what has happened in Kilnaleck,” said Cllr O’Reilly.

Bailieborough garda HQ

Regarding news that the new Garda headquarters in Bailieborough will be finished before the middle of next year, Cllr O’Reilly said: “I’ll eat my hat if it is the case.”

He said the situation in Kilnaleck “smacks of absolute disgrace for rural Ireland” and called for a letter to also be sent today to the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and the Minister.