Community group continue to have concerns over policing in Dundalk

Garda Tony Golden

The Cooley Peninsula Community Alert Group has said senior gardaí are still not being listened to or their concerns acted on in relation to policing of the Dundalk district, despite the death of Garda Tony Golden.

Garda Golden was shot dead while on duty in Omeath on Sunday October 11th

Two years previously he had been working with the peninsula-based community group to highlight shortcomings of Garda resources in the immediate area and had compiled a dossier for the then Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter. The Cooley Peninsula Community Alert Group released this document at the weekend.

Now in a letter sent to Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan, the group said that the fact they have been asked to advocate for resources shows a “failure of the Commissioner’s Office and the Minister of Justice to adequately protect their Gardaí.”

The group also says that garda numbers have “significantly” fallen below 13,000, despite an aspiration from the then minister for it not to be breached.

The group says despite recent recruitment announcements they have had no detail on “what that will likely mean to the overall numbers of gardaí serving, given their demographics and again a target number for adequate policing.”

The group urges the commissioner to “start speaking out for the safety of 12,000+ gardaí and the communities they operate” in order to avoid the deaths of any more gardaí.

The also ask that the commissioner “address and correct the antiquated system” that means gardaí have to go to community groups to have their fears addressed and so that senior gardaí will “no longer have their concerns ignored.”

Chairperson of the Cooley Peninsula Alert Group, Johnny Larkin, said the lack of garda resources was not just an issue for Louth but for the whole country.

Referring to the dossier compiled by Garda Golden he said Garda Golden informed the group of depleting numbers of gardaí.

He said the group met Minister Shatter in April 2014 following the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe. Minister Shatter said at the time he could not see Garda figures falling below 13,000.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme Mr Larkin said this number has now fallen and new Gardaí are only replacing those who retire.

Cooley community group make document from Garda Golden public

Garda Tony Golden

A community group in the Cooley Peninsula has made public a document given to them by Garda Tony Golden, who was shot dead earlier this month.

In the handwritten document given to the group in 2013, Gda Golden raised a number of concerns about the lack of police resources in the Dundalk district.

Secretary of the Cooley Peninsula Community Alert Group Gearoid O’Sullivan approached Garda Golden ahead of a meeting with the Minister for Justice to voice the group’s concerns.

The group still has the original document Gda Golden drew up in response.

It decided to put the documents in the public domain, as they were Gda Golden’s concerns for his colleagues and they are now advocating for all gardaí still living.

In it Gda Golden raised concerns about the reduction in Garda manpower and an over reliance on overtime, and his and other gardai’s fears that the overtime that had been made available for the murder investigation into Garda Adrian Donohoe in 2013 would not be continued into 2014.

He also raised concerns about the lack of cover when local gardaí were used to supplement Garda numbers in Dundalk, the district headquarters.

The group met the then minister for justice Alan Shatter in April 2014.

Since the death of Gda Golden, two sergeants and 25 gardaí have been deployed to the Dundalk District, albeit on a temporary transfer, from stations in Cavan/Monaghan and the Dublin Metropolitan Region North.

The document from Garda Tony Golden

Dundalk Gardaí walk out on Garda Commissioner

Garda Tony Golden RIP

Colleagues of Garda Tony Golden walked out on the Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan when she tried to address them on Monday.

News of the walk out was revealed in today’s Irish Daily Mirror, with Gardaí said to be fed up with cutbacks in the force in recent years.

Ms O’Sullivan was addressing Gardaí following the shock killing of their colleague Garda Golden, who was gunned down in Omeath on Sunday evening.

The Mirror reports that a young female Garda made it clear to the Commissioner she was sick of cuts in resources.

The young Garda then led “up to 10 officers” out of the meeting.

Ms O’Sullivan was back at Dundalk Garda Station yesterday for a private memorial service for Garda Golden. The father of three will be reposing at his home in Sandygrove in Blackrock from 3pm to 7pm today before removal tomorrow for his funeral Mass at St Oliver Plunkett Church in Blackrock.

This is the second major tragedy to befall local Gardaí in under three years following the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in January 2013.

Yesterday’s Budget allocated for the training and placement of 600 new Gardaí nationwide but that is unlikely to restore morale straight away in a mourning force. Prior to the announcement Sinn Féin president and local TD Gerry Adams hit out at the cuts to resources of Gardaí in the border area.

Yesterday Fr Michael Cusack from St Joseph’s Redemptorist Church in Dundalk also called for more Garda resources.

He said: “The staffing levels need to be upped and the commitment financially needs to be upped.”

Garda Donohoe murder suspect gets engaged while on the run

The late Adrian Donohoe RIP

One of the suspects in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe has reportedly got engaged while on the run in the US.

The Irish Daily Star reports today that the recently engaged couple plan to get married in America as he does not want to return to Ireland.

The man, who is not believed to be the gunman, fled to the United States shortly after the 41-year-old father of two was shot dead during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan on January 25^th 2013.

Renewed appeal for information on Garda Donohoe’s killing

Adrian Donohoe RIP

A renewed appeal for information on the killing of Garda Adrian Donohoe was made yesterday on the second anniversary of his murder.

The father of two was shot and killed during an armed robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan on January 25^th 2013 with investigations ongoing since then.

Commenting at the weekend, Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan said “very significant progress had been made into the investigation but she admitted it was complex.

She was speaking after attending a memorial Mass for Garda Donohoe at St Joseph’s Redemptorist Church.

She said the force needed to get things 100% right before those responsible could be brought to justice.

She said gardaí had full co-operation from the PSNI and forces in other jurisdictions.

However, she said there are people in the community who have significant information that could help the investigation and she called on them to have the courage to come forward.

Yesterday Sinn Féin president and local TD Gerry Adams offered to act as a go-between for anyone who wished to pass on information on the killing.

“I would again appeal for anyone with information to bring that information forward to An Garda Síochána or the PSNI,” Adams said.

“If people are nervous about doing this they could pass the information to me and I will pass it on to the relevant authorities.

“There is a duty on anyone with information to bring that forward to ensure that his killers are brought to justice.”

Meanwhile, yesterday’s Sunday Independent claimed that one of the two main suspects into the murder was no working in the IRA’s illegal fuel trade and was regularly seen driving trucks across the border.

The man, who is in his mid-twenties, was reported to have been standing alongside the gunman who fired the single shotgun blast that instantly killed Garda Donohoe.

The main suspect for firing the fatal shot is also said to be back living in south Armagh and is suspected of being re-involved in criminal activity.

Anchor Tours providing shuttle service for tonight’s candlelight vigil in memory of Garda Adrian Donohoe

Anchor Tours will be providing a shuttle service from the St Patrick’s GFC complex in Lordship for anyone wishing to attend tonight’s candlelit vigil in memory of Garda Adrian Donohoe.

The vigil from Lordship Credit Union is to mark the second anniversary of his murder.

The detective was gunned down during an armed robbery at the credit union on Friday January 25^th2013, with his killers yet to be brought to justice.

He was a popular member of the community and an important part of the local GAA club, St Patrick’s GFC.

The vigil will take place at 9.15pm with refreshments afterwards in the St Pat’s complex in Lordship.

The free shuttle service from Anchor Tours will run from 8.30-8.45pm and anyone attending is asked to please make sure they wear high visibility clothing.

Anyone travelling along the route from Bellurgan to Lordship around 9pm is asked to be wary of pedestrians along the road.

Candlelight vigil this Friday for Garda Adrian Donohoe

A tribute to Adrian Donohoe inside the St Patrick’s clubrooms, where Friday night’s walk will conclude

A candlelight vigil will take place at Lordship Credit Union on Friday night to mark the second anniversary of the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe.

The detective was gunned down during an armed robbery at the credit union on Friday January 25^th 2013 with his killers yet to be brought to justice.

He was a popular member of the community and an important part of the local GAA club, St Patrick’s GFC.

The vigil will take place at 9.15pm with refreshments afterwards in the St Pat’s complex in Lordship.

All are welcome to attend.

Adrian Donohoe’s widow reportedly suing the State over his murder

Adrian and wife Caroline, who met in Garda college in Templemore, before marrying in 1994 and settling in Lordship, outside Dundalk

The widow of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe is reportedly suing the State over his murder.

Today’s Irish Daily Star claims that legal papers were lodged on behalf of Caroline Donohoe – also a member of the Gardaí – at the end of June.

The paper reports that the legal action is being taken under the official Garda compensation scheme for members killed or injured while on duty.

Garda Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan in January last year.

As well as Caroline, he also left behind two young children, Amy and Niall.

Speaking after collecting a Rehab People of the Year award on his behalf last September, the mother of two said: “Adrian was the best father that any child could have.

“There was nobody like Adrian and Adrian was the love of my life. I will miss him every minute of every day as long as I live.”

Donohoe suspects pictured with guns in America

The late Adrian Donohoe RIP

Two of the men suspected of being involved in the killing of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in Bellurgan in January 2013 have been pictured posing with guns at a shooting range in America.

The photos of the pair, who fled the country following the botched robbery at Lordship Credit Union, are published in today’s Irish Daily Star.

They are pictured with semi-automatic pistols and rifles.

Both were believed to be part of the game who organised the robbery at the credit union in January of last year, however, neither is believed to have been the gunman who pulled the trigger to murder the 41-year-old father of two on the night in question.

Interim Garda Commissioner determined to catch Donohoe killers

The late Adrian Donohoe RIP

The interim Garda Commissioner says she’s determined that the people who murdered Adrian Donohoe will be pursued and apprehended.

The Detective Garda was shot dead during a botched robbery at the Lordship Credit Union outside Dundalk in January 2013.

Gardaí previously stated they are satisfied that they’ve identified the gang members involved – but no arrests have yet been made.

However, Noirin O’Sullivan says she is very confident that the people who murdered Adrian Donohoe will be brought to justice.

She said: “We are very, very determined that the people who murdered [him] will be pursued and will be apprehended.

“We’re having very, very good cooperation with the PSNI and our colleagues in the US authorities and I’m very confident that the people that murdered Garda Donohoe will be brought to justice.”

Ms O’Sullivan made the comments at the Garda Representative Association’s annual conference in Kerry yesterday.