'Very productive' meeting held over need for more Gardaí in Laois town

Gda Inspector Niall Brophy, Liam Murphy (PCDA), Aidan Mullally (PCDA), Gda Inspector Joe Culliton. Photo: People of Port Facebook page

placeholder image — Gda Inspector Niall Brophy, Liam Murphy (PCDA), Aidan Mullally (PCDA), Gda Inspector Joe Culliton. Photo: People of Port Facebook page

Repeated incidents of vandalism in Portarlington on the agenda

A meeting between a community group and Gardaí over the need for more garda resources in a Laois town has been described as 'very productive'.

Members of Portarlington Community Development Associations (PCDA) met with An Garda Siochana in Portlaoise this week where the issue of a lack of Gardaí in Portarlington was discussed along with a range of other issues facing the town.

"A very productive meeting today with An Garda Siochana in Portlaoise where Portarlington Community Development Associations (PCDA) discussed the need for additional Gardai in Portarlington and the need for station opening hours to meet the community requirements. Also discussed was the recently announced Dept. Of Justice community safety fund that could potentially be used to increase safety at Playground. CCTV was also discussed and plans put in place," the group said in a statement.

"Laois County Council and An Garda Síochána Laois/Offaly will be establishing a community safety forum that replaced the joint policing committee and PCDA have expressed interest in being involved in the safety forum."

Portarlington’s new playground in the People’s Park opened to the public earlier this week after delays due to repeated incidents of vandalism.

Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley recently raised the issue of Garda resources in Portarlington highlighting that the Laois-Offaly town lacks community policing and a manned Garda Station to police criminality despite a rapid growth in population.