Six garda∅ are on sick leave in Tralee as the result of assaults over the past month, the Garda Representative Association said this weekend in a statement which called for extra Garda resources in the north Kerry town.
The GRA say the number of assaults has reached crisis stage. What they describe as "an unprecedented meeting" of the association is taking place in Tralee tonight at the behest of rank and file garda∅. The GRA say a hard core of youths are "terrorising" Tralee and that individual garda∅ and their relatives are being threatened. The lives of garda∅ are being put at risk because patrol units are forced to operate at skeleton strength, according to the statement.
A complaint has been made to the Health and Safety Authority, seeking an investigation into the dangers posed to garda∅ in Tralee. "In the past week a new development has taken place where telephone calls have been made to the Garda station and elsewhere threatening named garda∅, their families and their homes," Garda Dave McMahon, GRA national executive member (Kerry) said.
Last Wednesday night a female garda and her male colleague were set upon by three youths near the town centre. The female garda required hospital treatment and her male colleague was bitten and had to have seven stitches, Garda McMahon said. And on Friday night two garda∅ were assaulted after a row broke out on Pembroke Street.
"The lives of garda∅ are being put at risk as a result of management's inability to provide extra garda∅. At present the garda∅ are providing a fire service for the public, responding to incidents after they occur rather than having enough Garda numbers to prevent these incidents happening in the first place," said Garda McMahon.
The GRA say regular unit strengths have been "denuded" as a result of training and transfers to the Border.
"Members taken off the regular units have not been replaced. Units are operating on skeleton strength," Garda McMahon said.
However, Garda management say Tralee is no different to other towns of its size. They have rejected the GRA's claims that a hard core of 20 to 30 youths are "terrorising" Tralee.
Garda Chief Supt Fred Garvey says Tralee was no different to other towns of its size. "Like other towns we have a certain element constantly involved in crime. But we would absolutely reject the word terrorise," he said.
"I'm obviously very disturbed that our members should be subject to any form of attack. Garda∅ have a difficult job to do and it is part of their remit to confront certain elements from time to time on behalf of the community they serve," Chief Supt Garvey said.
Extra garda∅ were on duty on Wednesday night for Hallowe'en, he added. Garda manpower in Kerry was stronger now than it had been for years and was a matter of on-going review.
Earlier this year Sinn FΘin in Kerry North came under fire from the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, and from senior garda∅ in Tralee because of their role in "crime solving" and law and order activities in north Kerry. Sinn FΘin claimed to have made a breakthrough in a series of robberies in the area when it identified the gang responsible and restored property to its owners.
Sinn FΘin rejected claims of vigilantism and of interfering with Garda investigations and said they were at all times acting at the behest of constituents who sought their help in tackling crime in Tralee and outlying villages.
A report was ordered by the Minister who said the Garda did not need Sinn FΘin's "assistance".
Kerry North is a marginal constituency as far as Fianna Fβil is concerned. Recent polls suggest the party may lose its seat to Mr Martin Ferris, the Sinn FΘin candidate.