‘If it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ – Louth councillor hits out at own party for scrapping policing forum

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

A second Louth Fianna Fail councillor has criticised the party for failing to grasp opposition to the new Local Community Safety partnerships.

Cllr. Emma Coffey spoke at the Dundalk Municipal meeting, where she said her own party had “dropped the ball” and hadn’t taken into account the views of local councillors on the LCSP model.

The community partnerships are replacing the former Joint Policing Committees which had been wound up in 2024. The Louth LCSP is expected to meet in October, with two councillors from each of the municipal districts nominated to sit on the forum.

The Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Cllr. Sean Kelly, is also expected to take a seat.

Cllr. Coffey said she had “strong reservations” about the new committee.

“I thought the JPCs worked well. I do feel it is centralised government again taking a more top heavy approach as opposed to what worked and was community based.”

She said she held the view; “If it isn’t broke don’t fix it,” and warned that it was “another thing that has been eroded for councillors.”

Cllr. Coffey added: “We already discussed anti social behaviour at the meeting tonight, this is our bread and butter, this is what we do. Instead of centralising everything we should have a ground up approach.”

"I feel my own party in government dropped the ball, I have to say that, and I am very disappointed in it.”

She said a lot of people reach out to their local councillors on issues that needed garda involvement, and added that the policing forum held meetings that all councillors could attend and represent the concerns of local people.

The new Community Safety Partnerships are not a function of the council, and will not be providing reports back to councillors, she said.

"I think we need active participants on this forum. As councillors we have to fight for our rights, and we have to fight for our communities rights in order for them to feel safe.”

She criticised what she felt was “putting this into civil service mode,” saying “That will not work on a community level. It is not what we need on a local level.”

Cllr. Coffey is the second FF councillor to have voiced their opposition in the space of a few days, after mid Louth councillor, John Sheridan said the forum reduced opportunities for local councillors to raise crime concerns with gardai.

“It is very unfortunate that our TDs and Senators did not listen to the warnings. This is removing our ability to communicate with gardai on behalf of our constituents, and communities won’t be as safe as a result,” said Cllr. Sheridan.

Two members of Dundalk Municipal District have been nominated to the new forum. Cathaoirleach Robert Nash and Councillor Andrea McKevitt were selected at the September meting following a roll call vote.

Cllr. Nash agreed that the JPC’s had “worked very well” and admitted that while there may be “teething problems” with the new forum, it needed a chance to get started.

He said both he and Cllr. McKevitt would be available to liaise with councillors on issues to be raised.