Gardaí use taxis to transport prisoners

Gardaí were hiring taxis to transport prisoners across County Galway, it has emerged.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh asked about the practice of ferrying prisoners in taxis due to a shortage of garda cars at this week’s County Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting.

The Sinn Féin representative said he knew of one taxi which drove Gardaí and their charge from Clifden to Casla and onto prison. He asked how many gardaí were required to assist in this exercise and what would happen if the taxi driver was injured during the journey.

Chief Superintendent Tom Curley said Christmas had come early for the Galway Gardaí as they had been granted “a lot of new cars” as well as new garda vans – three in addition to the one so-called paddywagon already stationed in Galway City.

He said it was his view that he would rather see taxis transporting prisoners for long distances rather than a patrol car as that would put the Garda vehicle out of action for detecting criminals.

“There’s no health and safety issues. We always adhere to the number of gardaí required,” he told the meeting.

Chief Supt Curley said Galway had been allocated five new recruits who would start training in Galway City next month and would then be moved to different divisions.

With 600 new recruits starting training this year and 800 expected to begin next year, there would be a knock-on effect for divisions across Galway as extra officers were assigned.

Loughrea and Salthill did have reduced numbers of gardaí working but for the rest of the divisions, the reduction was minimal.

He said two new guards had started in Loughrea and it was like “winning the lottery” in the division After years of cutbacks, the extra vehicles and guards were creating a positive environment.

Councillor Mary Hoade (FF) said up until five years ago, Headford had a sergeant and three gardaí but now only had a single garda who was covering a very large area.

Cllr Frank Kearney (FG) said Loughgeorge station was increased to four officers when Corrandulla closed down but that has since been halved.

Ch Supt Curley said he was finding it difficult to secure a suitable sergeant for Headford as they had to be “a jack of all trades”, skilled enough to do warrants and summonses but not from the local area.

He believed Loughgeorge was being serviced adequately.

Upgrading garda accommodation was important to encourage officers to live where they worked, which was good for local communities.