Anger as new community safety scheme replacing policing meetings branded a “muppet show”

Councillors voice anger over loss of policing committees and absence of county safety wardens in new safety partnership

COUNCILLORS in the Adare-Rathkeale district have hit out at the decision to replace Joint Policing Committees with a new Local Community Safety Partnership, warning it will leave rural Limerick communities behind.

The comments came during a presentation from community safety coordinator Paul Moroney on behalf of the newly established Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) at the October meeting of the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District.

Councillors were told that the LCSP, a new national framework bringing together An Garda Síochána, the HSE, Tusla and local representatives, will replace traditional Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meetings.

However, the news was met with strong opposition from several councillors, who argued that rural areas are being sidelined.

Cllr Adam Teskey said he was “not impressed” by the change, adding that “as a council we should be allowed to call a JPC meeting when we see fit.” He expressed frustration that none of the four new community safety wardens appointed under the LCSP will be deployed outside the city.

“You may not be aware of the challenges that this town endures,” he told representatives.

“Rathkeale is a parish in rural West Limerick whose population doubles at Christmas. We have to deal with stabbings, shootings, and rammings, seizures of weapons and drugs. In our case, this system is inept.”

Cllr Teskey added that he believes the LCSP is “taking away from the seriousness” of the concerns raised by people he represents.

“People have come to me saying they feel so unsafe they can’t sleep at night ,their businesses are being broken into, cars robbed, and yet we’re being told this is a partnership? It feels more like a dictatorship,” he said.

Cllr Stephen Keary echoed the concerns, describing the scheme as “a puppet show”, while Cllr Teskey interjected calling it “a muppet show”.

Cllr Keary added that the move “doesn’t fairly represent Limerick county people, just Limerick city people.”

Similar to the reception the presentation got at the monthly meeting of the Municipal District of Newcastle West, members were in agreement that this scheme didn’t serve their communities and they felt the pre-existing arrangement with meetings with the relevant local Garda superintendents was more beneficial.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme