Angry locals express safety concerns at Roscrea public meeting

CONCERNS about public safety and increasing incidents of violence and anti-social behaviour in Roscrea were aired by angry members of the community at a public meeting in the town last Friday night.

The meeting, organised by local activist group Roscrea Stands Up, heard that Roscrea Garda Station, which once had a core staff of 24 Gardaí, is currently operating with seven members of the force.

Fear for the safety of children and the elderly, and the dramatic influx of people seeking international protection currently residing in the town, were the prime concerns of the local community.

Roscrea's reputation has been indelibly sullied, several local contributors said - pointing to videos of violent incidents in the town centre which were widely shared on social media over recent weeks.

"I used to walk every night and know several other women who would walk every night on the bypass and through the town - but I'm afraid now and I won't let my children into the town after dark" was the shocking indictment of the current atmosphere in Roscrea by one local Mother.

That sentiment was echoed by several other contributors - including the parents of a young man from Roscrea who was assaulted by three foreign men a short distance from his home. His phone and belongings were taken from him.

"Only for he is a fit and strong lad and he was able to fight them off and get away from them it would have been much worse", the young man's father said, adding that the three men who assaulted his son directed their blows towards his head while he was prone on the ground.

"It's plain for all to see the Garda Station in Roscrea isn't open as much as it should be and there is a lack of Gardaí patrolling the town", Chair of Roscrea Stands Up, Derek Russell told the meeting.

Deputy Michael Lowry was the only elected Dáil representative to attend the meeting. The organisers invited all five Oireachtas members representing Tipperary and the meeting was attended by several members of Tipperary County Council and local political activists.

Deputy Lowry said concerns over the Garda Station is an issue he has received numerous representations about from people very concerned about safety in Roscrea. 

"Once Roscrea Garda Station had 24 Gardaí - now it has seven to patrol a town of almost 6,000 people and the surrounding areas", Deputy Lowry said, stressing that he is not critical of the Gardaí working in Roscrea.

"Several Gardaí stationed in Roscrea have made contact with me over the last 12 months in particular explaining how hard it is to do the job with the numbers they have and the lack of cover they have for each other and their inability to keep the station open at all times.

"The Gardaí themselves are concerned about that and I'm fully conscious of the difficulties they have and the deficit they have of numbers - it's about numbers and it's about the cover they require '', Deputy Lowry said.

"The situation in Roscrea has become more difficult for the Gardaí because of the increased population in Roscrea and the diverse nature of the increase in the population. 

"That has brought problems with it and we have a commitment from various Ministers and government that where towns and villages accepted and welcomed refugees and people from Ukraine there would be extra support services.

"One of the failings of the situation in Roscrea has been the inability to provide accitional Gardaí and that has caused problems for the community, for the Gardaí themselves and they are very unhappy about it", Deputy Lowry told the meeting. 

Deputy Lowry said he has spoken with Minister Helen McEntee about the situation in Roscrea and she has briefed the Garda Commissioner and Chief Superintendent for the Tipperary/Clare Garda Division. 

"This is a national problem" Deputy Lowry added, tracing the genesis of the problem to too few new recruits entering and qualified Gardai emerging from the Garda Training College in Templemore.

He explained that the Tipperary/Clare Garda District has also seen a disproportionately high number of retirements from the force in recent years and that when their experience is lost it affects the connection between the public and their local Gardaí and their intimate knowledge of the area is lost.

"The Gardaí in Roscrea are doing an excellent job. They're under enormous pressure and they're finding it extremely difficult and they're responding way above what most Gardaí are doing in any part of the country.

"We need to continue to support them and give them respect and continue to give them the support they require to do their job", Deputy Lowry said, adding that many towns around the country are struggling to accommodate the numbers seeking asylum in Ireland.

Councillor Michael Smith told the meeting part of the issue stems from the decision to amalgamate Roscrea and Nenagh Garda District and that when local people contact Roscrea Garda Station they are often redirected to Nenagh - on some occasions even to a Garda based in Cork. 

Cllr. Smith assured the meeting that only Ukrainian asylum seekers fleeing the war in their home country are being accommodated in the former Sacred Heart Convent after some members of the public expressed concerns about the facility.

He said it is unclear how many people are currently being accommodated in Corville House in the St. Anne's complex, but they are not Ukrainian nationals and instead are a mix of nationalities of people seeking international protection.

"I don't know how many are in St. Anne's or how long they will  be there and we will work together to ascertain how many people are there and what is happening", Cllr. Smith said. 

Addressing concerns about Corville House, Deputy Lowry said he has spoken with several local contractors who informed him there is "constant development happening at that site".

"The main issues in Roscrea seem to come from St. Anne's and I've spoken with the Minister (Roderic O'Gorman) and recall assurances that they would cap the numbers at around 130", Deputy Lowry said, adding that he will make further enquiries.

"The Department of Justice simply has to understand that Garda numbers in  Roscrea have to be increased and the existing Gardaí need more support", Deputy Lowry said.

Almost 100 people attended the meeting and the organisers expressed some disappointment at the smaller than anticipated attendance. A follow up meeting will be announced in the coming weeks.

Pictured at the public meeting in Roscrea hosted by Roscrea Stands Up are Martin O'Brien, Chairman Derek Russell, Cllr. Michael Smith (FF),Breandán Ó'Conchúir, Cllr. Eddie Moran (Ind) and Cllr. Shane Lee (Ind). Photo: PJ Wright