Typical paddyism. Crime through the roof, burglaries, muggings on the up and our lost slash and burn the very service the public need.

Shatter is an absolute disgrace as a justice minister, his posh hole is so far removed from the realities of the danger on the streets.

If you don’t trust your police (without absolving them from prior transgressions), you’re left with anarchy. Reduce policing, increase crime; you know what the meerkat would say.

That’s crazy closing stations . Sooner Alan shitter is gone the better

This is an absolute bl**dy joke . The sooner this government go the better. None of this makes any sense .

I assume the above comment will be removed ??? Hello Journal????

Stick to the point at hand the country gard is the direct link between the community and the law. A lot is solved outside the church on a Sunday morning. The country gard involves himself with community be it through sport or just obliging when there is a local funeral, it’s give people generally a friendly face to approach with whatever private matter they have

The local Garda station is important. Its the eyes and ears of the law around the country. A district headquarters 30 miles away will not give a toss about eg. Jonny and Mikeys feud over land boundaries in Ballygobackwards. This is a retrograde step, which we will all pay dearly for in future.

crime is rampant, so the governement decide to close stations, move gardai from these villages where burglaries are an everyday occurance and think the people would settle for this????? how does this make sense??? the first thing a citizen in Ireland should feel is safe in the knowledge that when in danger that they can ring 999 and expect a rapid response from the gardai, not gardai who are stationed in district hq miles away. I pity the everyday garda who are doing the work of two and three gardai and as a result of the powers to be get absolutely no thanks or help. I know for a fact that every garda will continue to do their best for the people but there’s only so much a police force can take.

The gardai have enough to be doing so I would say there is more to that story Michael. I don’t think 8 gardai would waste that amount of time for nothing and bringing her straight to court must mean its a serious matter that is private to the woman and her family. why do you think getting loads of people to ring and complain would help this situation?

Why are we closing rural Garda stations when cities have too many. In this day and age is it necessary to have six hard stations in the south central division of Dublin. Years and years ago there were so many stations in the city as there were no cars etc. Now we don’t need as many. I would propose maybe three to four main stations in the city with smaller, efficient Garda offices around.

Closing rural stations cuts off communities and leaves them at the mercy. Every one in a village or hinterland should know their local Garda and vice versa. I know in a city/large town in different but we look for the Garda for help. Yes there are some who are problems, that is in every job but the majority are ordinary men and women doing an extra ordinary job.

You sound like more of a hindrance than a help Michael, tell the real story about why 8 gardai showed up or best maybe to say nothing at all

The GRA are the worst representative association ever . Rotten to the core and in bed with management ! !

Having a bad day Michael?

I could solve a lot of issues in this country with a pencil, paper and a pair of Balls. Enda has none of those and no brains either, well paid though!

Just a recognition of reality in rural areas.

My village has, nominally, a Sergeant and two Gardai. In reality, No-one knows their names or when the station is open. Even worse in the next village.

In an emergency call 999; otherwise, forget about seeing them.

Next news article will read: 80 Chippers set to close forever.

What services? Stoping people all the time for car tax that’s the only time I see the guards “working”