The people of Gorey have lost their battle to keep a Superintendent and office staff at the local Garda station and the downgrading will take effect from Monday, November 11th.
The decision to proceed with ‘downgrading’ Gorey by the Department of Justice has been received with great sadness in the town.
Since late last year when changes in local policing was first mooted, numerous public meetings were held and the ‘Save Gorey Garda Station’ campaign, an apolitical group led by concerned citizens, gained momentum.
Hundreds of people gathered for a public meeting in the Ashdown Park Hotel, while a peaceful protest march took place through the town centre.
Over 1,500 ‘likes’ were recorded on the ‘Save Gorey Garda Station’ Facebook page while over 2,000 people signed a petition.
Speaking at a meeting of the Gorey Town Joint Policing Committee meeting last March, the Chief Superintendent of the Wexford Garda Division, Supt. John Roche, said: “Policing will not change. The station will remain 24-hours. The number of gardaí will remain the same, except for the Superintendent and maybe the Inspector.”
At the time, Supt. Roche confirmed that the Garda Station and Consolidation Programme would take place in three tranches.
There was constant calls to have the decision rescinded, and no changes were effected in April and June, but now the day of reckoning has come.
Three members of the office staff will transfer to Enniscorthy, while a fourth will join the prison service.
Locals who fought to save Gorey Garda Station are bitterly disappointed and say that now Gorey will be just a hub of Enniscorthy.
Full story on this week’s front page of THE GOREY ECHO.
