BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM

Groups of young men are causing violence on the city’s streets and are able to ‘run amok’ because of a shortage of Gardaí on the beat, a city councillor has claimed.

Cllr Mike Crowe has warned that late night anti-social behaviour in the city centre is set to worsen if Garda resources are cut any further.

He has submitted a written question to the Galway City Joint Policing Committee (JPC) asking Chief Superintendent Michael O’Sullivan if ongoing cutbacks are having an effect on street patrols, particularly at night.

Cllr Crowe has also asked for numbers ‘on the beat’ and comparative figures for a year and two years ago.

A Garda spokesperson told the Galway City Tribune that the question will be dealt with at a JPC meeting next week.

Cllr Crowe said a visible lack of Garda presence is of “deep concern” to him, and many people who have contacted him in recent weeks.

“I believe the city is under threat from an increase in violence, anti-social behaviour and crime generally if there are less Gardaí on the street. I’m not exaggerating, it’s very serious.”

He said continued Government cost-cutting was giving criminals an advantage.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.