Athlone Garda Station 'being downgraded' say councillors

Local councillors want a meeting with Justice Minister Helen McEntee to discuss what they say is the "downgrading" of Athlone Garda Station as a result of operational changes to policing due to come into effect locally later this year.

During a discussion at Monday's meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, Cllr Frankie Keena compared the upcoming Garda operational changes to the downgrading of Custume Barracks when it lost its brigade headquarters status in 2012.

Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, meanwhile, said "a perfect storm" was brewing in relation to policing in Athlone, and he called on Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to step down.

"The members of An Garda Siochana have had no confidence in the chief for some time, and I think there's only one correct course of action for that particular individual to take right now," said Cllr O'Rourke.

Since 2019, changes to the Garda operations have been rolled out on a phased basis nationally, and they include Superintendents being given responsibility for a particular function rather than for a geographical area such as Athlone, as has traditionally been the case.

A letter from Garda headquarters which outlined the impending changes in Westmeath was read out at the meeting on Monday.

It stated that the new Garda operational model was due to come into effect in Westmeath later this year and would create "three new functional areas to support members doing community engagement work."

"The new support areas are Business Services (which will be made up entirely of Garda support staff), Performance Assurance, and Crime.

"Additionally, there will be three community engagement areas spread across the merged divisions of Meath and Westmeath; Westmeath, Meath North and Meath South.

"In the case of Athlone Garda station, the numbers of Garda managers based there under the operating model will grow, with the allocation of new Inspectors posts.

"The role of the Superintendent in Athlone will be to head the Performance Assurance functional area across the new division," the letter continued.

"The Superintendent in Mullingar will take charge of the Westmeath Community Engagement area, which will manage frontline community and response policing across county Westmeath.

"None of the 29 stations in the division will be closed, and for those who need a Garda service it will be business as usual."

Responding to this letter, councillors expressed dismay that Athlone would no longer have a dedicated Superintendent with geographical responsibility for the Athlone area.

Cllr Keena said he was "annoyed and disappointed" with the response from Garda HQ.

"I see it as a downgrading of the rank of Superintendent at Athlone Garda Station. It's like the downgrading of Custume Barracks in 2012, when the higher ranks were taken away," he said.

Cllr Paul Hogan said it was "a disappointing day for Athlone" with "confirmation that the Superintendent here will be for operational management, and the community aspect and all other policing will be (managed) from Mullingar."

He said other local authorities had managed to get these changes "overturned" and that the local district should look to send a deputation to meet with Minister McEntee to discuss the changes.

Cllr O'Rourke said there had been "a winding down in status" of Athlone Garda station in recent years.

"Athlone has always been the poor relation in this county, in relation to the attitude toward Athlone Garda barracks from the higher echelons. Now things have taken a new and very worrying turn," said Cllr O'Rourke.

Garda morale in Athlone was "absolutely on the floor" according to Cllr John Dolan, who said there were times on Saturday nights when "only two or three" Gardai were on duty in Athlone.

"That's on a Saturday night! How could that work?" he asked.

Cllr Keena said he had previously asked for a request to go to Minister McEntee to meet with a deputation from the Athlone Moate district, and he reiterated this request.

He called on all political representatives in the area to work together in response to this issue.

"We need to collectively come together on this, and our Oireachtas members do as well, because Athlone is going to lose out and so far the response to that is not great," said Cllr Keena.