Officers 'delighted to host public' at annual garda station open day

The mood at Mullingar Garda Station was upbeat when they hosted their popular annual open day on Saturday week last. Families dropped in throughout the day, and the free ice cream the younger members were treated to was only one of many attractions.

Sergeant Brian Stone, Community Policing in Mullingar, told the Westmeath Examiner about the event. He said they were delighted to host the Garda Open Day and acknowledged the support of Superintendent Bláithín Móirín, and his colleagues in Community Policing, Gda Neil Donnellan and Gda Fiona Walsh, “who had the main roles, really, in planning it”.

“So I really want to say thank you to them for their hard work and effort in putting this together. We’re delighted today to invite the people of Mullingar in to see the garda resources we have and the services that we provide. We’ve got a lot of different units here today, including the Roads Policing Unit – people can see our new car in the fleet, the Volkswagen Golf Type R that was done to show you can have that kind of car and still keep it within the legislation.

“We also have the Škoda Kodiaq and the Škoda Combi cars, and Roads Policing officers with their motorbikes, and we’re delighted to have them involved as well.”

The Public Order Unit were also present showing the children too how they carry out their duties; the Garda Water and Armed Support Units were present, and there were station tours as well. There were queues at the Scenes of Crime Unit building, where officers were explaining their roles in helping to solve cases, and taking children’s fingerprints, to show them that part of the process.

“We were meant to have the Garda Mounted Unit but unfortunately due to resources needed in Dublin, they had to be all deployed there, maybe next year we’ll get them back,” said Sgt Stone.

Gda Neil Donnellan followed up on what Sgt Stone said: “I just wanted to thank the local units.

“A lot of members came in on their days off, so we appreciate them coming in and giving us a dig-out here. You can see a lot of the faces here from previous years, and we’re delighted to see them back again, with young children as well.

“A big thanks to Jonathan Plunkett from town, who supplies refreshments here for the kids, ice cream and other refreshments, tea and coffee; and thanks to the Civil Defence, who give a dig-out every year as well, with their equipment and vehicles.

“We have a face painter as well, and, as Brian was saying, it’s great to see the new Golf R here. It’s a popular car and we’ve had good interaction on social media around the car, so it’s great to have it here for the open day.”

Superintendent Bláithín Moran, Community Engagement, Westmeath, was “delighted to see such a huge number of people coming in to visit the station and to see the specialised garda units. Huge thanks to Sergeant Stone and all of the colleagues in Community Policing and the members of the station who have put great work in today, it’s a massive success. And thanks to everybody who came in today.

“The weather wasn’t great at the start, but a huge thanks to everybody who came in to visit us, we really appreciate it.”