Concerns raised over Garda and prison vans at Dundalk Courthouse taxi rank

The issue of prison vans and Garda cars parking at the taxi rank outside the courthouse in Dundalk was raised by Independent councillor Maeve Yore at Tuesday’s monthly meeting of Dundalk Municipal District.

Councillor Yore said that the taxi rank only has twelve spaces and the taxi drivers were asking her why the spaces were being used by garda cars and prison vans with the result being there was not enough room for taxis. 

“Can we as a council approach the prison service and the Gardai and ask them to park in the back carpark like they used to do?”

In reply, Louth County Council Director of Services Thomas McEvoy said that there had been discussions at corporate level with the prison service and that they had expressed concern that there would be a ‘pinch point’ for prison service vehicles.

“The suggestion of going into the yard wouldn’t work from a security point of view and they need to have a route out if needed,” he said.