Sinn Féin Dublin South West TD, Seán Crowe, has called for more Garda resources in Tallaght, following the controversial remarks of local Circuit Judge Anthony Halpin.

Judge Halpin called for the Civil Defence be used for Garda back up following a number of high profile murders in the area and what he called the “total breakdown” of social order in the area.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Judge Halpin’s remarks while controversial, are I am sure, based on his concerns and experiences about the case load coming before his Court.

“Tallaght, like many areas in Dublin and across Ireland, has been constantly in the news for negative reasons.

“Positive developments and achievements by its inhabitants tend to be ignored or brushed aside by media outlets.

“Any independent analysis would have to agree that from its inception, Tallaght, and its hinterland, have been held back by a lack of resources and political commitment to the area.

“It has some the highest level of unemployment in the State, a state of the art hospital that has been under resourced since its opening, and it is regularly in the news for all the wrong reasons.

“We have social services that are creaking under their workload, a housing shortage and rental crisis, an on-going drug problem and all the associated difficulties that come with that, including criminality.

“We have a policing service that at times have found it difficult to cope, and compared to towns and cities of similar size and population, Tallaght has got a raw deal when it comes to Garda numbers and resources.

“Judge Halpin needs to be listened to, and in my opinion, extra Garda resources should be delivered to Tallaght and its surrounding areas.

“I, along with many others in the community and public life, have been calling for extra Garda resources and extra community supports for decades.

“Maybe the Government, the Minister for Justice, the Garda Commissioner and the political establishment might, just might, listen this time.”

ENDS