Policing Authority holds meeting in Ballina

There has been no reduction in the number of Garda patrols in Mayo due to the new policing model, the Chief Superintendent of the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford division told a meeting of the Policing Authority in Ballina on Thursday.

Chief Supt Raymond McMahon joined Garda Deputy Commissioner Anne Marie McMahon and Policing Authority chair Bob Collins for the meeting at the Great National Hotel. It is the first time the Policing Authority has held a meeting in Ballina.

Mr Collins said Mayo was the first county where the new policing operating model was rolled out.

Policing Authority member Dr Deborah Donnelly asked what benefits there had been.

Chief Supt McMahon acknowledged there has been some apprehension, but said there were benefits to linking existing units and expertise.

There have been renewed calls for a superintendent to be installed at Castlebar Garda Station from Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon and others following the retirement of Supt Joe McKenna in May.

Mayo has gone from five superintendents to just two in recent years after what has been described as a "realignment of management".

Alan Brady was promoted to Superintendent of the Mayo North area in July, while Supt Gabriel Moran is based at Claremorris Garda Station in Mayo South.

Chief Supt McMahon said there will be no additional superintendents for Mayo and there is a "misconception" that fewer superintendents mean a poorer service.

“I think the message that really needs to get out to the people is that the two superintendents that are in north and south Mayo are solely there now for community engagement,” he said. “In previous times, we had more superintendents, but they were involved in crime investigations and administration, and they are now being assisted by more inspectors.” 

There have been several times this year where the Garda patrol car in Westport has been sent to Castlebar, but Chief Supt McMahon stressed that cars being sent out of their area is not a common occurrence.

“We have all of our patrol cars now visible to a control centre so if it’s a case of if we have a car in Claremorris or we have a car in Castlebar and another unit is tied up instead of waiting for that car to become free the control centre can now see if another one is available,” he added.

Chief Supt McMahon said gardaí in Mayo deal with approximately 1,000 calls a month and there are a small number of occasions where patrol cars are sent to different areas, but it is not typical of the new policing model.

“We have changed the management structure and how we’re calling out our cars and we are trying to get as fast a response as possible,” he added.

Chief Supt McMahon insisted the policing model is being monitored continuously and welcomed the discussion with the Policing Authority. He also referred to the 12 fatalities on Mayo's roads this year, the highest percentage increase nationwide. There have also been five road fatalities in Roscommon and two in Longford, giving a total of 19 for the district.

“In terms of roads policing, Mayo has had a horrendous year," said the Chief Supt, adding that An Garda Síochána was appealing once again to motorists to take all necessary precautions, especially around wearing seat-belts.

Garda Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, who has responsibility for road policing, also called on road users to be vigilant during the winter period and said further awareness campaigns would be rolled out in the run-up to Christmas.

“We are coming into one of the most worrying parts of the year,” she added.

Assistant Commsr Hilman said An Garda Síochána has been assessing how fixed speed cameras are working in Scotland and she believes that is one measure that may be rolled out.

Chief Supt McMahon told the Western People he would "absolutely welcome" more speed cameras, adding that additional GoSafe vans have been deployed across the county in recent months.

Chair of the Policing Authority Bob Collins said it was very important to bring the forum to Ballina and county Mayo.

“It is really important for us to get out of our own offices and Dublin and meet in communities and this year we have had three meetings so far, one in inner-city Dublin, one in Drogheda and in this division and we are going to be in Waterford next month,” he said. “It is really important because you get a different perspective on the way policing is experienced by people and the way it is conducted and the way it affects people.” 

Mr Collins said the members of the Authority also get an insight into the various challenges in different Garda divisions across the country.

“We always subdivide our attention, it’s not just a Dublin perspective we have,” he added.

Meanwhile, Garda Deputy Commissioner Anne Marie McMahon said an investigation is being conducted by the Garda Anti-Corruption Bureau to identify members of the force who created “malicious” and harassing WhatsApp messages about two female colleagues.

Policing Authority member Elaine Byrne described the messages, which went viral after being sent on Garda-issued mobile phones, as being "offensive, false, inappropriate and malicious".

Ms McMahon said it was too early to say how many Garda members were involved and if any disciplinary action would be taken.

Just eight female members of the force have made formal sexual harassment-related complaints during the last decade and Ms McMahon agreed this was not a realistic figure.