Goverment tells Kill and Ballymore stations to close down

In the midst of the harshest budget in the history of the state Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, took the opportunity to announce a raft of Garda station closures under cover of the political distraction.

Despite a growing crime wave across the Naas area and wider commuter belt, with burglaries up again, Minister Shatter has seen fit to close Garda Stations in Kill and in Ballymore Eustace, taking a total of four local Garda resources out of those communities and being recalled to duties in Naas Town Station.

Fianna Fáil’s Local Area Representative for Naas area, James Lawless, has criticised the move and says the Minister is particularly devious in trying to sneak this in under cover of the budget distractions.

“Kill Garda station has covered the wider area of Kill, Kilteel, Eadestown and surrounds whilst Ballymore also served a large rural hinterland. With zero community consultation and no public engagement at the stroke of a pen the Minister has dealt a blow to local communities and removed the security of a permanent local Garda presence. I have written to the Superintendent in Naas Station to convey my concerns and to ask what contingency plans are to be put in place. Between the Council cutting off public lighting and the Minister closing down Garda stations it is almost an invite to anti-social behaviour and worse” said James. “These communities cannot be left exposed and unprotected” concluded James.