Mattie McGrath warns of violence and drug dealing in Clonmel
Mattie McGrath spoke about escalating violence, open drug dealing and intimidation on O'Connor Street and across South Tipperary, urging better protection for the public. He raised concerns about Garda numbers, cited injured officers and said the criminal justice system was failing local communities.
Local incidents
He described a businessman on O'Connor Street who has faced ongoing violence, open drug dealing and intimidation, and recalled a full-scale row that blocked the street in the middle of the day. He said towns across South Tipperary, including Clonmel and Carrick, are fearful and struggling with anti-social behaviour.
Injured officers and policing numbers
He highlighted that two Garda officers in his area were seriously injured after violent attacks in the past two to three months. He said he has raised Garda numbers in Clonmel with the new superintendent and criticised recent allocations, saying the minister gave 10–12 of the last tranche to another county and his area received none.
Community and court actions
He said local community members, including Keanu Regan and Fiona and two community workers, are bringing offenders to court, but complained that many defendants are released quickly. He warned that "the whole system is broken" and emphasised the need for better public protection.
Local infrastructure and follow-up
He noted the turning of the sod and enabling works for a new Garda station, mentioned plans for a new library and praised the local museum, and said he met senior Garda officers on site. He said he will take concerns about Garda numbers and anti-social behaviour back to the Minister for Justice and requested a direct reply to Deputy Marianne Harkin.
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I hope that you walked O'Connor Street, I have a businessman on to me this week, through the ongoing incidents of violence, open drug dealing and intimidation on the streets, trying to remove his door out of O'Connor Street, he's there for a number of years, and a successful business. The lack of guarantee in Clonmel, Carrick and Shure, Cale, and all of South Tipperary is just frightening at the moment. I met the new superintendent, he knows I'm raising this, he wants me to raise it, you mentioned 120 yards, for Dublin, I know the minister gave 10 of the last tranche or 12 to her own county, we didn't get one. We have two excellent officers out seriously injured after being violently attacked in my own area in the last two months, three months, and can't melt town, a proud town, and great business people and great people, but they cannot put up with the intimidation and the open drug dealing and the violence in the middle of the street, a full-scale rouse blocking the street last Monday in the middle of the day, and I spoke to Keanu Regan, and Fiona and the two community girls, they are bringing them into court, they are out the next day, feeling an aid, the whole system is broken, but the public need to be protected, and they will not be protected. I was delighted to be in my man recently with Michael Murphy, and for the turning of the sod of the new Garda station, I was in the library, excuse me, we were there for the enabling works, Deputy, I know Michael Murphy is working very hard on the ground, but let me just finish the point, we were there for the enabling works for the Garda station, we are going to deliver a new library next, I was in the library, but it was also in the beautiful museum you have, and I mean that genuinely too. I think I met the superintendent that day, I certainly met many senior Garda, and I genuinely will take back the serious issue you are raising around Garda numbers in Clonmel, the anti-social behaviour and the issues you are coming across, and I will get the Minister for Justice to reply to you directly. Deputy Marianne Harkin
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