The Garda station at Tinahely in County Wicklow is run down, vulnerable and ill-equipped.
Tinahely Garda Station covers a 13 hectare section of south Wicklow. It is operated by two full time Gardaí and Sergeant William Duggan.
When Garda Kevin O'Neill goes out to patrol from Tinahely he must travel by bicycle as the nearest squad car is in Baltinglass 25 kilometres away. The Tinahely gardaí do not have a bleeper. If something happens when he is on the road, Garda Kevin O'Neill must cycle to the nearest telephone.
Tinahely Garda station is in bad state of repair and has been condemned since 1974. At a time when Gardaí around the country are concerned about armed robberies and how to deal with them, the Garda members in Tinahely are vulnerable.
Residents in Tinahely have petitioned their TDs to improve the situation. A local man does not think the issue is being taken seriously. He does not feel the Gardaí are adequately equipped to deal with problems in the area.
Local priest Fr Thomas Curtis thinks the Tinahely Garda Station building has been allowed to deteriorate.
It was a substantial, solid building and now, for the lack of care, for the lack of a bit of maintenance it's ready to fall.
He believes the time for refurbishment has passed, and it would be more cost effective in the long run to build a new Garda station.
Sergeant William Duggan has reported the building's condition. Improvements have been promised but have not materialised. When local emergencies arise, they respond by calling the patrol car in the hope that it is available. To date, this process has not lost lives, and he hopes such good fortune will continue in the future.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 18 November 1980.
