Garda changes to aid crime battle

The ongoing battle against criminals in Meath will not be affected in any way by the merger of the Laytown and Ashbourne Garda Districts, despite misgivings about the move on the ground in the east of the county, a garda chief said this week. Superintendent James Cannon, Ashbourne, said the population of the newly-merged districts could look forward to an improved policing service with no diminution of resources on the ground. The merger has left people in the east Meath area around Laytown concerned about the level of policing they could expect. Fianna Fail Senator Thomas Byrne described the move as "a disaster for the people living in these communities" and said that he was deeply saddened that the government had taken this "shortsighted" decision. Laytown and Ashbourne were two of the most populous communities in the county and deserved a full garda district, he added. Residents of the coastal area of Meath had fought for their own garda district some time ago and the senator said he had lobbied then Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan for separate districts for the two areas. "This merger will create a garda district that will stretch from Dunboyne on the Kildare border all the way to the outskirts of Drogheda. Policing functions should be as localised as is possible," Senator Byrne said. Labour TD Dominic Hannigan has also asked whether the garda changes would help "beat the burglars". He said he wanted to see the amalgamation of Ashbourne and Laytown garda districts used to positive effect when it comes to tackling crime. "I want to ensure that the minister is aware that, in Meath, we have seen a 40 per cent increase in burglaries between 2010 and 2011. I have asked the minister how garda resources are going to be allocated to deal with this increase, given the recent administrative changes to policing in Meath," he said. To read the full story see this week's Meath Chronicle.