Dozens of gardai are being redeployed from one of the country’s busiest divisions, to cover the EU presidency next month, Aontú has highlighted.
Leader Peadar Tóibín says communities must not be put at risk due to the shuffling of garda resources to cover the six-month presidency.
Aontú has highlighted how more than 40 gardai are being temporarily transferred from Ballymun and Finglas in Dublin, to cover security needed for the EU Presidency.
Yet less than 10 gardai will be moved from the leafier Blackrock and Dun Laoghaire region, to work on the high-security presidency.
The officers are some of hundreds who will be moved over, as part of the Operation Brehon policing operation for the duration of the presidency.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says gardai must not be lost from areas that need them, for a whole six months.
He said: “Our information is they are being taken from certain stations to be sent to cover the term.
“This leaves these garda stations understaffed. They’re already very busy, and especially so of course in areas with a higher crime rate.
“They’re involved in cases and investigations that will have to be paused in the meantime. Do these victims of crime know their investigations are being dropped due to the presidency?
“What kind of engagement is going on?
“Lots of senior gardai are frustrated as they will be losing numbers and most of them will be what they refer to as ‘scarecrows’ for six months.
“They’ll be standing at intersections and at barricades and on street corners, effectively acting as security.
“It’s robbing Peter to pay Paul, and communities should not have to pay the price. It will reduce the capacity to bring criminals to justice because their caseloads will be paused.”
“We are calling on the Mnister for Justice to state exactly how many gardai are to be detailed to work on the presidency during the six-month role, and where they are coming from.”
