New request to be made for establishment of Garda dog unit in Donegal

A Donegal county councillor has expressed disappointment that hopes of a Garda dog unit being established in Donegal in the near future have been dashed after a dog that was in training “failed to make the mark”.

Cllr Michael McClafferty raised the issue at the latest meeting of the Local Community Safety Partnership where he said it has been nearly three years since he called for the establishment of a dog unit in the county.

The independent councillor said he had received correspondence that a dog that was in training for a posting somewhere in the country had not progressed.   

“You think there would be  more than one dog in training and they would not put all the pressure on one dog,” he said.

“If there is only one dog in training at any one time in Ireland… we will be waiting a long time for a dog unit in Donegal.”

Cllr McClafferty said a dog unit would be “a huge help in the drugs battle” and he asked that the Local Community Safety Partnership write to the Garda commissioner requesting a dog unit in the county.

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The call for the establishment of a dog unit in the county was supported by former Donegal Garda Sergeant James Trearty, who said Donegal is “very vulnerable” due to the proximity to large population centres across the border and the presence of the airport and  seaports.

The Garda has dogs units based in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway and Monaghan.The dogs attached to the units are used in major crime investigation, missing person search, suspect search, drugs, cash or firearms search, evidential article search, explosive/security clearance search, public order, high visibility patrols and community engagement.

Chair of the  partnership, Cllr Gerry McMonagle,  agreed that the group should write to the department over the issue.