Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Jul 1982

Vol. 337 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mountmellick (Laois) Robbery.

8.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that the Chaplain at Our Lady of Victories College, Mountmellick, County Laois telephoned the Garda on the emergency 999 number when he noticed recently that a robbery was taking place in the college, that he was informed that he should open the college gates to admit the patrol car and that when he did the thief escaped through them with a large sum of money; if he is further aware that the gardaí did not visit the college until two days later to investigate the crime; the reason for the delay in attending to the urgent telephone call; if he considers that the Garda are providing a satisfactory service to the public in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on this matter in view of the apparent failure of the Garda to attempt to capture the thief.

9.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

asked the Minister for Justice the purpose of the visit by gardaí to the Chaplain of Our Lady of Victories College, Mountmellick, County Laois, immediately after the tabling of a parliamentary question on the recent theft at the college; and the reason for the delay in dealing with the complaint.

Mr. Doherty

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together.

To begin with, I should say that my understanding is that the intruder did not in fact escape through the college gates. Subject to that preliminary point, the matters complained of are at present the subject of investigation by the Garda authorities and, as soon as I am informed of the outcome, I will communicate with the Deputy. The visit to the college Chaplain was undertaken as part of the investigation.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

Will the Minister indicate to the House why the gardaí, having been notified by the Reverend Chaplain that a robbery was in progress, took two days to present themselves at the college? Will the Minister not agree that there was something radically wrong, that when the gardaí responded and as the gate was being opened to admit the patrol car the thief escaped with a large sum of money? Will the Minister tell the House why the gardaí did not turn up at the college until two days after they were notified by the Reverend Chaplain of the problem? Why did they not come immediately when they were invited to do so by the Chaplain? It was an extremely urgent matter as there was a thief in the college.

Mr. Doherty

I agree with the Deputy that it is a very serious matter. I wish to make two points. First, I am informed the intruder did not escape through the gate. I am informed the gardaí arrived the next day, not two days later. All of the matters raised by the Deputy are being investigated at present by the gardaí.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

I take a most serious view of the matter. I want the Minister to indicate where he got the information that the gardaí turned up on the following day because that was not so. It was communicated to me by the Reverend Chaplain that they did not come until two days afterwards to make inquiries. It is now six weeks since I put this question on the Order Paper but the inquiries which the Minister states are in progress have not been completed. I wish to know why the gardaí called on the Reverend Chaplain immediately after I tabled the question. Is it not a fact that they called to ask the Chaplain to make an alteration in the statement he made previously in which he stated the gardaí did not call to the college until two days after being informed of the situation? Is there anything on the Minister's file stating that the gardaí originally notified the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána that they could not go to the college immediately because there was a fog and that the patrol car could not travel from Portlaoise to Mountmellick in the fog? I put it to the Minister that there was no fog on that night, on the next day or two days afterwards. Finally I put it to the Minister——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy may put a question to the Minister.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

Will the Minister state where he got the information that the thief did not escape through the gate which was opened to admit the patrol car? The Reverend Chaplain saw the thief going out the gate. This is one of the reasons why the Garda authorities called on the Chaplain to get an alteration in his original statement to save them the disgrace of what happened. I ask the Minister to say when it will be possible to have the results of the full investigation into this grave and serious matter.

Mr. L'Estrange

There seems to be a fog over the whole matter.

Mr. Doherty

I can assure the Deputy that I will spare no efforts to ensure that the report will be available to me as soon as possible.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

I should like to ask the Minister to retain the information he may have as I will repeat this question at a later stage in the hope that the Dáil may know the full circumstances in relation to this grave and serious matter. I ask the Minister to request the Commissioners of the Garda Síochána to inquire why there is no Garda sergeant in Mountmellick. The Garda sergeant lives in Partarlington and has refused to occupy the Garda barracks in Mountmellick. This is a total disgrace and it is the reason so many strange things are happening in the locality. There should be an immediate inquiry by the Commissioner and the Minister for Justice to investigate this serious crime. I will deal with it in this House at a later stage.

An Ceann Comhairle

I am calling Question No. 10.