‘Intimidated’ comment does not reflect people in the community

COMMENTS made by a councillor last week that residents feel “intimidated” by the increased garda presence in West Tallaght do not match the view of the majority of councillors in the area.

This was stated by Independent councillor Mick Duff, who is the chairperson of the Tallaght Area Committee, at a meeting of the Joint Policing Committee last Friday.

As reported in The Echo last week, Solidarity councillor Leah Whelan said some residents felt “intimidated” by the increased garda presence in the area.

The additional garda resources have been deployed to West Tallaght as a number of bus route curtailments have been implemented due to ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Whelan added that more focus should be placed on resources for young people in the area so they can engage positively in the community, and she voiced her support for the affected bus drivers.

Cllr Leah Whelan

Cllr Whelan made these comments at a meeting of the Tallaght Area Committee last week on Monday, January 23.

Speaking at a meeting of the Joint Policing Committee last Friday, Cllr Duff refuted Cllr Whelan’s comments about people feeling intimidated, and commended the extra garda resources.

“The front page of The Echo yesterday indicates that a councillor expressed a personal view that the presence of gardaí is an imposition on the community,” said Cllr Duff.

“That does not hold. That is not my view, and that is not the view of the majority of my fellow councillors in the Tallaght area.

“There are many local residents’ associations and communities calling for extra garda resources, and for somebody to turn around and equate the presence of some garda vehicles at a bus terminus as an imposition and unwanted in the community is patently untrue.”

Attempts were made to contact Cllr Whelan on Wednesday morning but she was not immediately available for comment.