End of an era as senior garda in Mayo retires

Long-serving Belmullet Garda Inspector Dermot Butler is retiring after 36 years in An Garda Siochana.

The Crossmolina native has been a fixture in Erris for much of his career and played a prominent role in the policing of the contentious Corrib Gas project 20 years ago.

Following stints in Dublin after his passing out from Templemore Garda College, Inspector Butler made the move from Blanchardstown to Belmullet in 2000. His promotion to the rang of sergeant saw him serve in Clifden and Loughrea for four years before Erris came calling again in 2006. He was promoted to the position of Garda Inspector in 2016, and after a period in Castlebar and Swinford, he was once again in Belmullet in 2021.

“I have been here (Belmullet) for 22 years in total which is a huge part of my service. There were difficult times during the Corrib Gas. It was difficult, not only for us, but for the local people as well. It was a difficult time for the people of Erris and that has to be recognised. Thankfully we have all moved on with our lives,” Inspector Butler stated.

He said while Erris “isn’t the crime capital of the world”, there remains challenges in policing one of the most remote parts of the country.

“We have had a lot of tragedies and a lot of fatal accidents during my time here. These are never easy to deal with, especially suicides involving young people. It’s never an easy thing to knock on somebody’s door and tell them their son and daughter has been killed in a road accident,” said Inspector Butler.

“Just because you are a Guard doesn’t mean you are built of stone, we are all human beings,” he added.

Inspector Butler was also involved in the operation following the R116 helicopter tragedy in March 2017 when four members of the Irish Coast Guard were killed when their helicopter crashed into Blackrock Island. A major search ensued with Blacksod becoming the hub for the various state agencies and voluntary organisations that were involved.

“It was tough going for a number of weeks and it’s so sad that two of the crew members were never found,” he commented.

Inspector Butler said community policing is key in an area like Erris.

“The guards get to know the people in their community and it’s that connection that’s unique to Erris,” he said.

He feels that Garda recruitment should be bolstered in the area to retain that sense of community connection.

“Unfortunately, the number of Gardaí in the Erris area has dwindled in the last number of years, and we are covering an area the same size as Co Louth.” 

In recent years, Inspector Butler also acted as the Garda prosecutor in Belmullet District Court. He said he would miss the verbal jousting with local solicitors that took place during his tenure.

He said he will carry fond memories of serving in Belmullet into his retirement.

“The people of Erris have been very good to me, and I like to think that An Garda Síochána have reciprocated that and being good to them. 

“I might not have been everybody’s cup of tea, but I’d like to think I haven’t fallen out with too many people!” he joked.