Rural crime in Fingal can only be curbed by reversing cuts to local Garda resources

​Local Fianna Fáil TD has said that the two recent attacks on farmers in the county have exposed the severe deficits in Garda resources across Dublin Fingal.
The Deputy was commenting following last night’s meeting on Rural Crime in North Dublin held by the Irish Farmers Association in the Carnagie Court, Swords.
He said, “In the past number of months there have been two known violent aggravated burglaries on farmers locally. These thugs didn’t just attempt to trespass but they savagely attacked these two gentlemen on their own property.
“Deputy President of the Irish Farmers Association, Richard Kennedy detailed the extent to which criminality has taken hold in some rural communities across North County Dublin.
“It’s an incredibly shame that some brazen individuals set out to target vulnerable, law abiding and hardworking people for their own gain.
“The reality is that Fingal has had a 20% reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochana that equates to a loss of 1 in 5 Gardaí since Fine Gael has been in Government. Garristown Garda Station has just one Garda.
“The decision to re-open Rush Garda Station has been trumpeted by our local Government representatives and yet we have seen absolutely no progress. Just this week I received an update from the Minister for Justice which leaves us no more clued in as to when we can expect it operational.
“The Gardaí stationed to police our county are exceptionally dedicated to trying to ensure full public safety but it’s clear they are left without the necessary resources from Government.
“I will continue to do all I can in opposition to insist that the reductions in Gardaí in Fingal are reversed to stamp out crime in our area and that Rush Garda Station is finally re-opened once and for all,” he concluded.