Gardaí halt planned 'overcrowding' walkout

Gardaí today called off a planned walkout from one of the most overcrowded stations in the country.

Gardaí today called off a planned walkout from one of the most overcrowded stations in the country.

More than 80 members were expected to be involved in the protest at the 75-year-old Garda Station in Finglas, Dublin tomorrow.

However, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors said the members had agreed to wait for a site for a new station to be rezoned.

"They have received a categoric assurance that measures will be taken to proceed with the planning permission on the Mellows Road site in Finglas," said spokesman Austin Kenny.

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He said Dublin City Council planned to rezone the site from amenity to commercial.

"If that rezoning doesn't take place by July 1, the walkout will go ahead."

He said he hoped that the new station could be built within a year.

The Garda Representative Association commissioned a health and safety audit of Finglas Garda Station last year, which found that it was in very poor condition.

It said emergency exits were blocked, floors were dirty and there were no female toilets.

"Overall, there is massive overcrowding and Gardai work in sub-optimal conditions," it said.

More than a dozen major murder investigations have been based in Finglas station the past five years. But some operations have had to be relocated to Blanchardstown Garda Station due to the space constraints.

PA