New Garda unit in Galway to probe sexual assaults

A Protective Services Unit for sexual assault victims in Galway has been approved by Garda top brass.

That was confirmed by Chief Superintendent of the Galway Garda Division Tom Curley at this week’s meeting of the County Joint Policing Committee.

This news comes as it was revealed the rate of sexual assault in the county during the first nine months of the year saw a 28% increase on the same period last year.

In figures released to the JPC, there were 37 non-aggravated sexual assaults reported in the first nine months of 2018, compared with 29 from January to September 2017.

Chief Supt Curley said his representations for a specialised unit to deal with this type of crime had been listened to and they would soon start the process of recruiting staff for it.

“I had made an application for a Protective Services Unit in our division. We will need two detective sergeants and ten detective gardaí. We have sent out for expressions of interest,” he said.
This is a preview only. To read the rest of this article, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. Buy a digital edition of this week’s paper here.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and  county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.