Posted by Retired Garda Sergeant tries to report ‘drug deal’ in Donegal pub but nobody available to respond due to cuts
A RETIRED Garda Sergeant has revealed how he tried to report a suspected drug deal happening in a pub in Co Donegal but was told there was nobody available deal with the incident.
Former Garda Christy Galligan served in divisions across the county for more than 30 years until his retirement a few years ago.
Mr Galligan has revealed that an encounter with a woman he claims was selling drugs in a Donegal pub on Saturday night prompted him to contact Gardai.
However, when he contacted the station he was told there was nobody from the drugs or detective unit available.
The former Garda said officers’ hands are tied because of the lack of resources at a time when drugs are getting to epidemic levels in all walks of life.
He revealed “The last evening I was out with my wife and a friend. We went to a bar to watch the Donegal v Dublin match.
“While there I noticed a group of people at a table.
“When the match was over I saw two ladies arrive and go over to this group at the table.
PACKAGES EXCHANGED
“One of these women opened her handbag and placed several small white packages of what I suspected were drugs in the handbag of one of the ladies at the table.
“She then went to another female and further packages were exchanged. This was a clear case of suspected sale and supply of controlled drugs.
“I rang the local garda station and informed them of what I saw but to my dismay, there was no drugs unit available and there wasn’t a response from the local detective unit.”
He added that as a former member of a specialist drugs squad, he saw with frequency the use of hard drugs by people from all walks of life to satisfy their need for pleasure.
“It has and still does decimate lives but the financial crash put paid to drugs units and other specialist Units.
LACK OF INVESTMENT
“They were downsized quite considerably until some had only a few part-time members on rolling 6-month transfers until this day.
“Every division around the country was affected and the reaction to the financial crash and the introduction of FEMPI (Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) was that a large number of Garda retirements ensued.
“There were also the lack of investment and recruitment that further devastated these units over many years.
“I was attached to a division that had one sergeant and nine gardaí working from a divisional headquarters supported by one or two full-time garda members in other districts within the division.”
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris grants 35 senior gardai €6.5million redundancy deal
Exclusive: Those retiring will be entitled to six months’ salary as well as their normal pension and lump sum entitlements
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has granted 35 senior officers a €6.5million redundancy deal, the Irish Sunday Mirror has learned.
And a source revealed there is outrage internally at the early retirement news – set to be rolled out from April – which has been branded the “biggest brain drain in the history of the force”.
Commissioner Harris is understood to have written to the top brass on Friday informing them of the decision.
In total, 28 superintendents, six chief superintendents, one assistant commissioner and one civilian executive director will leave “before the end of the year”. Those retiring will be entitled to six months’ salary as well as their normal pension and lump sum entitlements which amount to 150% of their final salary after 30 years of service.
Hitting out at the “shambolic” plan, the source said: “Harris wrote to all those who had applied for early retirement on Friday telling them it had been granted.
“In total, there will be 35 senior officers retiring as well as an executive director, the highest civil rank in the force.
“Harris wants to bring more civilians into the force which is ridiculous. It’s a cost-cutting exercise. What’s needed is officers with experience – those retiring have 30-odd years under their belts.
“It’s the biggest brain drain in the history of the force. It makes no sense whatsoever. It’s an absolute shambles.
“The early retirement will cost around €6.5million altogether – each retirement package will consist of six months’ wage, their pension and also a lump sum.
“It’s grand trying to revamp the force but you don’t get rid of 35 top gardai, never to be replaced.”
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