Public order vans scarce as hens teeth

GARDA cutbacks have led to a nationwide scarcity of public order vans, more popularly known as ‘Paddywagons’.

One Mayo based Garda Superintendent put it this way: “Public order vans are like hen’s teeth at the moment. We’re waiting for a new order to come on stream.”

Supt. Tony Healy made the comment at a Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting in Castlebar in response to a question from Councillor Christy Hyland.

The councillor complained that a public order van had been removed from Westport, one of the busiest towns in the region, for over a year because some other location needed one.

“Westport is a good town,” Councillor Hyland remarked, “but on a Saturday night the presence of the van sent out a message. The people of Westport don’t want to see the van taken. They were robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

Supt. Healy said the gardaí were committed to keeping a public order van in Westport and the delivery of an order of new vans was awaited.

Councillor Hyland also raised the question of the garda fleet of patrol vehicles, stating some cars weren’t fit to be on the road due to high mileage.
Supt. Healy, responding, said the force was undergoing a process at the moment of fleet renewal.