Changing role of An Garda Síochána
THE photograph here from April 1974 marked a milestone for members of An Garda Síochána in Castlebar when they took possession of a fleet of top of the range Panda patrol cars, writes Tom Gillespie.
Eleven members of the force, all stationed in the county town, were pictured by Tom Campbell outside the old garda barracks, now the site of the new garda headquarters at the Mall.
The old garda station was adopted from what was a British cavalry barracks by the Board of Works in 1937.
For the next 65 years or so the building housed the local garda force until the new headquarters were opened in June 2005.
While the new premises was being constructed the temporary garda station was housed in the old fire station on the Mall, now part of Aras an Chontae.
As a news and court reporter for 25 years I would have had occasion to call to the garda station at least once or twice a week. In those days, prior to Pulse or technological communications advances, the main means of circulating data was by telex.
The telex network was a customer-to-customer switched network of teleprinters, similar to a telephone network, using telegraph-grade connecting circuits for two-way text-based messages.
Telex was a major method of sending written messages electronically between businesses in the post-World War II period, and in the case of the gardaí, well into the late 1970s.
One particular event on which I sought information was an overnight robbery from Castlebar Post Office.
A new superintendent, Brendan Colton, had recently been appointed to the county town, who I had not yet met. I needed an update on the investigation for the Evening Press and Evening Herald.
I walked across the Mall to the garda station and was introduced to Supt. Colton, who was later appointed Chief Supt., in the cramped day room. I was able to get the relevant information from the telex, but was advised to change the amount, as stated on the telex, as to what cash was allegedly taken from the post office.
To my knowledge, no one was ever apprehended for the raid.
Around then there were no women members in the force, well not in Mayo anyway. The first to arrive in Castlebar was Garda Nuala Egan, followed shortly by Garda Mary O’Flaherty. They both made headlines at the time.
There have been tremendous advances over the years, both in communications and mobility for the garda force.
Today, the dedicated members are playing a vital role in ensuring the Covid-19 regulations are being adhered to right across the country.
They are implementing a 24-hour series of running checkpoints, many of which have yielded considerable results in apprehending criminals who thought they might get away with their illegal activities by exploiting the coronavirus crisis.