Justice Minister and Garda Commissioner to discuss anti-social behaviour in Galway

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Justice Minister Helen McEntee is to discuss special policing operations with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to target anti-social behaviour in Galway City.

The Minister was briefed this week on the recent spate of assaults and other problems in the city centre and gave an assurance she would discuss a request for “targeted operations” with Commissioner Harris.

Her pledge came as Galway’s Garda chief insisted this week that he has no intention of deploying a specialist riot squad to police illegal and anti-social behaviour in Eyre Square.

But Chief Superintendent Tom Curley stressed he would ‘not be found wanting’ when it comes to enforcing the law in the city’s most recognisable landmark, which has become marred by alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.

At the same time, he insisted he had 46 or 47 Garda stations across County Galway in which he had to employ policing staff, and frontline Gardaí, and had limited resources to guard the peace.

Galway West TD and Minister of State, Hildegarde Naughton, has discussed “the recent upswing in antisocial behaviour” with the Justice Minister – asking that Gardaí will undertake special operations.

“I don’t think anyone familiar with the disturbances in the city, including the occasions of serious physical harm, could be anything but disturbed. I therefore urged Minister McEntee to consider dedicated Garda operations in Galway to tackle anti-social behaviour, and the Minister assured me she will discuss my request with Commissioner Harris.

This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read the rest of the story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.