Women protest outside Roscrea Garda Station after alleged incident

Women in Roscrea took part in a protest yesterday evening, saying they felt concerned for their safety in the town.

Up to 120 women protested outside Roscrea Garda Station, following reports of an alleged incident on Sunday where a woman was entering her home with her children, when a man approached and allegedly intimidated her, attempting to force his way into her home.

In a post on Facebook the woman said she was returning home with her two children, when a man “tried to break into my house” while exposing himself and engaging in verbal abuse towards her.

“My poor six year old daughter is traumatised after what she witnessed,” she stated. “Thank God for the neighbours that heard my screams otherwise my two kids could have been left without a mother. We need to put a stop to this.

“This could have went a lot worse. From the bottom of my heart I want to thank my neighbours who stayed with me until my family arrived at the house.” The woman maintained she had “video proof” of the alleged incident.

Independent Tipperary County Councillor Shane Lee said there was a large presence of Gardaí on Sunday evening following the alleged incident. Arising from this, a group of local women organised the protest outside Roscrea Garda Station last night.

Cllr Lee said he took part in a community safety meeting yesterday, where he highlighted the Sunday incident to local Gardaí and Inspector Andrew Lyons. He said he would raise the matter again at a Join Policing Committee (JPC) next Tuesday involving the Superintendent.

Gardaí confirmed they are investigating a number of alleged incidents which occurred on Limerick Street in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, on Sunday evening, February 18. Investigations are ongoing, and An Garda Síochána are following a definite line of enquiry in relation to these incidents, added the spokesperson.

Community activist Gillian Dunne told Tipp FM that they have concerns about the number of Gardaí stationed in the town after the alleged incident. “In a town that has so much unrest already, it has caused major anxiety for the women in the community,” Ms Dunne told Fran Curry.

“There was over 120 women showed up outside the Garda Barracks last night. It was really to demonstrate the lack of Gardaí, and that women in Roscrea want to feel safer. We need a bigger Garda presence,” said Ms Dunne.

“This is what the demonstration was about, and it will be ongoing as far as I know,” added Ms Dunne, who is also a member of the Roscrea Community Action Group (RCAG), set up in relation to the Racket Hall Hotel protests.

Women spoke during the demonstration, saying they didn’t feel safe in public or going for a run, and personal experiences were shared. “People are scared,” said Ms Dunne. “That something like that could happen in a small town. Now we don’t even feel safe in our own homes.”

Ms Dunne said women will be staging protests at the Garda Station on a daily basis until the Government helps Roscrea with more Gardaí. “They need to meet us half way. We should have the Garda presence that we deserve,” she said. At one stage, up to 27 Gardaí were stationed in Roscrea. Now there are around 14 members.

Cllr Lee added that he wanted clarity on whether a number of Gardaí coming to Roscrea, can be assigned on a full-time basis, and not for a temporary period.

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