DUNDALK’S FREE NEWSPAPER Dundalk a Sea of Green for Saint Patrick’s Day Page 2
Councillor hits out at hooligans following attack on campsite Page 6
Wildlife returns to Ramparts river after clean-up Page 9
Thursday, 20th March, 2025. Vol. 18, Issue 12 • 9A, Crowe Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth Tel: 042 932 0888 | Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
Drop in Garda numbers ‘putting communities at risk’ By Paul Byrne DUNDALK Garda station had 25 fewer Gardaí at the end of 2024 compared to the start of the year according to a report in the Irish Independent this week. The drop in Garda numbers has been condemned by local TD Ruairí O’Murchú who said that communities are being put at risk and that the government must immediately meet the policing demands of a growing population. Commenting on the figures the Dundalk TD said it was not good enough that Dundalk had 25 fewer gardaí at the end of 2024 compared to the start of the year and that
this was ‘bad news for the town and the community’. He said that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s failure to address the problem of too few gardaí to meet the needs of an increased population was a dereliction of duty, that Minister Jim O’Callaghan must now tackle this issue seriously as a matter of urgency, and that this would only be done by increasing the training capacity of An Garda Síochána. Deputy Ó Murchú said: ‘Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s failure to address policing numbers is Dundalk exposed and putting communities here at risk. Continued on Page 2
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Marathon woman Collette O’Hagan was this year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal and she received a hero’s welcome from the massive crowds.