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29th January 2013 • Volume 20, Issue 03 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Rush Community Outraged By “Mindless” Robberies The consequences of the closing down of Rush Garda Station have By Jennifer McShane now been realised. In the past week, a series of robberies and a fire took place in St. Maur’s Church, causing some damage and resulting in community. Speaking to the County Leader, Chairperson of Rush its closure. This has caused outrage in the local community. Many resi- Senior Citizens, Kathleen O’Brien said the incident involving the dents in Rush now feel that, without the presence of a Garda Station, robberies and fire at the church was very hard on everyone, but that the town is wide open and that a ‘green light’ has been given to this the elderly were really feeling the after effects of it. “We are just kind of criminal activity. Many also believe that this pattern of destruc- devastated that this has happened,” she said. “Just recently the whole issue of the Senior Alert Scheme cuts (which were subsetion will spread out to other areas where similar cutbacks quently reversed), was very worrying and this is another have been made. blow to the local community. I have been inundated with Local business woman, Mairead Sweetman spoke to the requests from senior citizens now wanting the alarm County Leader about the impact this has had on the local system in place, because they don’t know what to do community. She couldn’t stress enough how important next.” Kathleen echoed Mairead’s sentiments on the the role of the Garda Station was to the town and the local matter, saying that the absence of the Garda Station people. “This whole incident is a new low. The Garda played a major part in the robberies. “If the Garda Station building alone is a physiological and physical deterrent to had remained in place, incidents of robberies and vandals. Without one, we’re sending the wrong signal out vandalism would be less likely to occur. Is it any wonder to the robbers.” Resident Betty Kerrigan also spoke of events such as this can so easily happen when we have no another woman who was recently robbed in Kenure and Pictured is Rush Parish Garda policing the area? ” who is afraid to venture outside her home since the Priest, Fr Kieran Coghlan Local Parish Priest, Fr. Kieran Coghlan said that the impact attack. “It is absolutely disgraceful. The residents are sick of the church closure was felt by everyone: “We’re all deeply upset that with worry that this will happen again, and it’s just not right.” These incidents have particularly affected the elderly members of the this wanton, mindless destruction has occurred at our church.”
Book of Condolence Opened At Swords Garda Station By Patrick Finnegan
Applewood Village, Swords, Co. Dublin
RESTAURANT SPECIAL 1st - 28th February
A Book of Condolence has been opened at Swords Garda Station as a mark of respect for Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was brutally murdered last Friday evening. This callous murder has been widely condemned by all and is regarded as a new low in criminal activity. Garda Donohoe was shot dead by a gang as they robbed the Lordship Credit Union outside Dundalk. The gang stole €4,000 in cash before escaping from the scene. Garda Donohoe’s brother, Colm is also a Garda and is stationed In Swords. President of Fingal Dublin Chamber, Siobhan Moore, who signed the Book of Condolence at Swords Garda Station, spoke of the revulsion that the murder has caused. She told the County Leader, “On behalf of the business community of Fingal, I would like to express
our heartfelt sorrow at the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. A brave man doing his job. Families don’t expect that their loved ones not to return home after a day’s work. It’s truly shocking,” she said. Meanwhile, further President of Fingal Dublin criminal activity Chamber, Siobhan Moore is visited the North pictured signing the Book of County over the Condolence. weekend, when two raiders made off with money and cigarettes on Sunday evening last, when they held up Carey’s Foodstore in Portmarnock. One of the raiders used a firearm to threaten the teenage son of the owner, who was behind the counter at the time. The raiders made their escape and gardai at Malahide are investigating the robbery. Thankfully, no shots were fired and nobody was injured in the raid.
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Pictured are Rush residents, Mairead Sweetman and Betty Kerrigan
Local councillor Ken Farrell (Lab), said he was also appalled by the desecration of the church. “Unfortunately, these horrendous acts tell us a great deal about today’s society. To vandalise such a sacred building shows an utter lack of respect and it is just appalling,” he said. “The Garda Station was a deterrent to potential vandals which is no longer there, and now the community is suffering as a result of this being taken away.” Kathleen O’Brien finishes off by saying that the one thing that is certain is that something must be done to prevent this happening again in the future: “We need some sort of alternate system in place, now that our Garda Station has been closed down. Locals can’t be going around worrying about what might happen, something must be done,” she concluded.