Calls for Garda ‘satellite’ station in Johnstown

The need for a garda station in Johnstown, Navan was highlighted at a meeting of Navan Municipal Council last week, as the growing levels of crime and anti social behaviour in the area were highlighted.

Cllr Emer Toibin called on Navan Municipal Council to write to An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice to secure a Garda satellite station in Johnstown.

She recalled that last year, Aontú held a public meeting about the growing issue of crime.

"I went into 40 or 50 shops with a poster to advertise the meeting. I could not get out of any shop in under 20 minutes as everyone one had a story and everyone agreed something needed to happen to prevent things getting worse. The meeting was massively attended and some dreadful personal experiences were given by many who attended.

"People don't feel safe walking in Navan even on a summer's night. I'm not even talking about the depths of winter. We all know it has got worse.

"Johnstown residents have been crying out for help for years. Every so often we see a spike in anti-social behavior and criminality. There is open drug taking, open drug supply. The gardai find it incredibly difficult to deal with, there are too few of them.

"I’ve written to the Minister for Justice, the Superintendent here in Navan, and the Garda Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner calling for greater Garda numbers and resourcing in Navan," she said.

"Now I am asking the council to add to the pressure for a satellite station.

"Meath remains the worst- resourced counties in the country as regards Gardai, despite being one of the fastest-growing. It has been like that for the last two or three decades.

“Meath has just one Garda per 615 people, while Louth has one per 329, Kildare; one per 226, Westmeath; one per 350 and Offaly; one per 442.

"Meath is way lower than the national average and we have one of the fastest growing populations in the country."

Cllr Toibin said she was asking the Council to get on board because she was using every lever available to put pressure on decision-makers to finally address the prolonged under-resourcing of Meath and its county town.

"Johnstown, in particular, has seen massive growth over the past two decades and now warrants its own Garda station and a permanent Garda presence.

"When I raise this with Navan Gardaí, they tell me they’ll increase visibility in Johnstown when resources allow. I don’t criticise them — they can only work in within the resources they have, but that’s exactly the problem: what we have in Navan simply isn’t enough.

The people of Johnstown have every right to be heard and to be able to live securely in their home and community. It’s time we all worked to back our growing communities with the Garda resources they need and deserve."

Cllr Francis Deane said the new community safety committee would meet in December. He had been chair of the Joint Policing committee for a number of years and had been lobbying for a sub station in Johnstown, but the big issue was lack

of resources. The Meath Local Community Safety Partnership will consist of 30 members from statutory and voluntary bodies, along with community representatives.