Retired garda living for free in local station, while renting out his own home

Locals in Ballyferriter, Co. Kerry are unable to make use of their local Garda station, because the old sargeant is occupying it.

A RETIRED GARDA sargeant is living for free in his former station while renting out his own home, 300 metres away.

The Irish Daily Star reports that Kieran Clancy continued living in Ballyferriter Garda Station in Kerry after he retired in 2007. It is common practice for gardaí in rural or isolated areas to live in the local station in order to be on call 24 hours a day. However, Mr. Clancy’s refusal to move out of the station means that another serving garda can not move in to carry out the necessary duties. Locals are forced instead to call on gardaí in Dingle, 10 miles away.

Michael O’Toole’s report on The Star indicates that garda bosses are not happy with the situation, but they are powerless to evict Mr. Clancy. He has reportedly offered to pay rent while living there, but that gardaí would rather he moved out to regain use of the station.

Read Michael O’Toole’s full report in today’s Irish Daily Star

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