GRA claim reduced number of gardaí is hampering the fight against rural crime



A north west GRA representative says the ability of the Gardai to tackle the issue of rural crime is not being helped by the reduced number of serving front line members.

Ray Wims a local representative for the GRA was responding to comments from Junior Minister Frank Feighan yesterday on Ocean FM’s ‘North West Today’ where he claimed Garda resources was not an issue in the Tom Niland investigation.

Speaking to OneanFM news this morning Ray Wimbs says that in the Sligo Garda District alone the number of serving Gardai has been reduced by 35 since the end of 2010.

Mr Wims says the GRA will seek a meeting with Minister Feighan to discuss the matter.

He says the comments from the Junior Minster came as surprise:

 

Minister’s response:

In a statement today in response to Garda Wims’s comments this morning on behalf of the GRA, Minister Feighan said his statements in relation to garda numbers and resources in this region were based on information he received from Garda HQ in Sligo.

Minister Feighan’s earlier comments had been in relation to the aggravated burglary and serious assault of Tom Niland in Skreen, in west Sligo.



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