Traffic cops diverted to keep an eye on the turf

Essential Garda resources are being deployed to bogs across County Galway to prevent turf being cut – but it is taking officers away from their normal road traffic duties.

A Government TD has described it as “a waste of resources” and has now called for a speedy resolution to the problem.

At one stage over last weekend there were five patrol cars on Cloonmoylan bog as Garda chiefs become increasingly frustrated over the fact that this controversy is taking away crucial mobile patrols.

Garda sources had told The Connacht Tribune that their traffic corps are now “babysitting” the raised bogs in question when it was a matter that should be dealt with by officials from the National Parks and Wildlife section of the Department of the Environment.

The number of Garda cars available to the force across County Galway has seriously depleted in recent years and now many of these are tied up with the bogs controversy.

The bogs are now being manned by Gardaí on a round the clock basis with units from as far away as Oranmore and Galway city being deployed to prevent the owners from cutting turf on the bogs.

In recent weeks there has been an increased Garda presence in two bogs in South-East Galway as part of the long running turf cutting saga which prevents harvesting on raised bogs. Gardaí have also been deployed to bogs in Monivea.

There have been a number of stand-offs between bog owners and officers from Parks and Wildlife which has led to an increased Garda presence in these areas.

But because they have to maintain a round the clock ‘vigil’ at these bogs, it means that many members of the force cannot carry out their normal duties in detecting road traffic offences.

For full story see this week’s Connacht Tribune