Community rally to support gardai

YOUTH and community groups held a rally outside Ballyfermot Garda Station as a sign of support for gardai following an alleged assault on two officers in the area.

The large demonstration on Tuesday evening was attended by a number of local groups, and residents from Ballyfermot and the wider community.

It was organised by local youth services and community groups.

Gerry McCarthy, Ballyfermot Youth Service, said they wanted to host a vigil outside Ballyfermot Garda Station “in support of gardai and against violence”.

“We could not have run the Halloween festival without the gardai,” said Gerry.

Superintendent Anthony Twomey thanked all those who attended for their support saying “it’s indicative of the people of Dublin 10”.

Olive Casey and Garda Kevin Finn

“Over the last 48 hours we have been getting messages into the station here, people visiting the station, empathising with us in terms of the job we have to do.

“It is like anything else with these incidents, there is a certain toll it takes initially, but what it does is strengthen our resolve in terms of delivering our service to the community,” said Supt Twomey.

Cllr Hazel de Nortuin, Gordan Clarke and Dave O’Donovan outside Ballyfermot Garda Station on Tuesday evening

“It makes us more determined and work harder at servicing 99 per cent of the people that live in the Ballyfermot area.”

Supt Twomey was “taken aback” at the large turnout for the rally but said it was “not surprising in terms of all the good work that happens in the Ballyfermot area”.

Superintendent Anthony Twomey with gardai speaking to members of the pubic outside Ballyfermot Garda Station

Cllr Daithí Doolan (SF) said: “This attack was wrong. No one should face this level of violence for simply doing their job. Those involved in the attack do not in any way reflect the good people of Ballyfermot.”