Over 1,700 outstanding bench warrants in Meath/Westmeath Garda Division

Clarke says government needs to take urgent action

There are currently over 1,700 outstanding bench warrants in the Meath/Westmeath Garda Division alone.

That's according to new figures published in response to a recent Parliamentary Question tabled by Deputy Sorca Clarke, which reveal that on the February 11 there were 1,713 outstanding bench warrants locally.

Speaking this week, Deputy Clarke, who has been appointed Sinn Féin's spokesperson on mental health, said that the large number of outstanding bench warrants in Meath/Westmeath Garda Division and the rest of the country needs to be urgently addressed by the government.

“This staggering number of 1,713 bench warrants highlights a significant backlog in the execution of court orders.

“It raises critical questions about the efficiency of the local courts and justice system in Meath/Westmeath and the potential safety risks associated with unexecuted warrants.

“The sheer volume of outstanding cases poses massive challenges for Garda in an area that already has a low number of Garda.

“Too many areas do not have a Garda station or where they do, residents find they are only open for a few short hours a week.

“The failure to address these warrants in a timely manner sends a message that non-compliance with the law may go unchecked.

“This backlog of bench warrants threatens the integrity of the justice system and undermines public confidence in law enforcement’s ability to maintain order.”

There are 1,012 outstanding bench warrants in the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford division.