AFTER claiming that it takes Gardaí in County Limerick between three and four hours to respond to emergency calls, Fianna Fáil councillor Richard O’Donoghue believes it’s time for a new fast response unit to be set up.
Speaking at this month’s meeting of Municipal District of Adare-Rathkeale, Cllr O’Donoghue put it to Inspector Paul Reidy from Newcastle West District Garda Station that response times were too slow and suggested that a fast response unit made up of experienced Gardai could be the solution.
“When the phone rings about a crime just let them straight off out to deal with it.
“I know people who’ve had to wait three and four hours after making a call for someone to turn up,” he claimed.
Inspector Reidy told the Adare-Rathkeale councillor that every Garda unit is effectively a fast response unit.
“The closest unit is always the best unit. We answer all calls as fast as we can with the resources we have in place. We haven’t recruited in five years and with the surge in crime we are under serious pressure.
“We are stretched, but we do the best with what we have,” he said.
