Urgent calls for extra garda resources for Louth

The spate of recent burglaries, car thefts and gang violence across Louth has led to urgent calls for increased garda resources for the area.

Local election candidate Erin McGreehan has added her voice to a growing number who are calling for extra resourcing.

“As a border county and a mostly rural area we need more resources to tackle and prevent crime, we are in a very vulnerable geographical position and the Government need to assist in the upkeep of law and order in the border region,” she explained.

Over recent weeks there has been an increase in burglaries and car thefts in towns and villages in Co. Louth, with businesses, farms and households also being targeted, while violent robberies involving vulnerable members of the community have also occurred.

Ms McGreehan continued: "one of the most distressing aspects of robberies and burglaries is the fear and insecurity they place on communities, particularly among the elderly."

The local election candidate commended the work of the community alert organisations; however she insists that further garda resources are key.

She said: “Even with the new scheme and the continuing vigilance of hard-working locals, it can only go so far. Unfortunately, it can be futile without more Garda resources.”

This comes after an elderly couple in Blackrock were targeted by two men last week who broke into their home and tied them up, before ransacking the house and making off with a small sum of money and the couple's car.

In a seperate attack, an elderly woman's home was broken into on Alphonsus Road, Dundalk. The woman was locked in her bathroom during the ordeal.

Elsewhere, county councillor Colm Markey has raised the alarm that recent gang violence is not limited to Drogheda and also called for "extra resources to handle the situation".

The Fine Gael councillor for Mid-Louth voiced his disgust at how “decent people now live in fear of doing the most ordinary things, such as sleeping soundly in their beds or going out to do a bit of shopping”.

He added: “People have a right to go about the day without the fear of being the next accidental target.

“The most recent spate of attacks has shown that the violence between these gangs shows no signs of abating and that the risk to innocent lives increases by the day.”

Councillor Markey stated that evidence of this violence can be seen within the area he represents and is a huge cause of concern to the family involved and to the wider community.

Cllr Markey said: “An attack on a local family, in the Mid-Louth area, demonstrates how these thugs can quickly turn a peaceful village into a place of fear and this cannot be allowed to happen. These gangs lure young people into their vicious networks and prey on their problems.

“The local community has rallied round to support the families and need to show continued solidarity and help these people and their families.”

He acknowledged that the Gardaí are doing their best, but need extra resources to handle the situation. Cllr Markey added that if gardaí are not given the adequate resources gang violence will continue to spread in local towns, villages and rural communities.