Safer Meath

If you've not been following the Local Papers, National Press, TV, Radio, or Social Media then you'll be excused for not know about the growing list of totally unacceptable anti-social behaviour and crime.

It's not only happening in Johnstown, Navan and Meath but across all communities in Ireland.

Media Reports

Town mayor (73) saves son during gang assault in family store - Independent.ieA 73-year-old town mayor has described how he rescued his son during a gang assault.

Meath Chronicle - Three arrests in Ciaran Reilly assault investigationThree juveniles were arrested this week as part of the investigation into the assault on Ciaran Reilly. One of the juveniles has been charged and appeared before Navan Court on Wednesday.

National Level

Peadar Tóibín TD raised the issue of Anti-Social Behaviour at the House of the Oireachtas on Wed 28 June.

Shane Cassells TD raised it with the Garda Commissioner as you can see in the Facebook Video.

Cassells pushes O'Sullivan for answers over resources at OIreachtas hearing into Garda spending and staffingwww.meathchronicle.ie/preview/roundup/articles/2017/07/13/4143050/?preview

Navan Public Meeting

Adverts were posted on Social Media and street posters around the area asked the Public to attend a meeting to see if they were sufficiently concerned to stand together and make a positive difference.

Although initiated by one national political party it is worth noting that Our Johnstown Times Magazine is in not associated to any political group and will always remain neutral.

The individuals who attended the meeting represented both themselves and their local community regardless of their political views.

Campaign

"The Safer Meath Campaign is a grassroots organisation working together to lobby for greater supports in policing, education etc to help alleviate crime".

Source : Safer Meath Campaign Facebook

For those not yet following their Facebook Page the following extract explains what's been happening.

"Two weeks ago (Newgrange Hotel, 11th July) a large number of people who are directly affected by crime, antisocial behaviour and drug abuse attended a public meeting in Navan. One of the outcomes of that meeting was that the Safer Meath Campaign would constitute an organising committee in order to effect pressure and change on the Gardaí, the government and the County Council................."

"According to the Chair of the new campaign Peadar Tóibín TD, Meath is being hit on the double with regards crime. Our population is growing yet the number of Gardaí in the county is down. This means that Meath has one of the lowest Garda per capita figures in the state. Also Meath is one of the only Garda Divisions in the state without a Divisional Headquarters. This personnel and capital deficit in our county directly effects our wellbeing and our safety.

Added to this is the fact that next door to us due to the ongoing Kinahan/Hutch feud in Dublin, Gardaí numbers in Dublin have increased. This is having the effect of displacing crime into Meath. This is directly leading to a spike in the level of criminal activity in the county. I am also aware that there is an organised crime gang operating in our county which is involved in large scale theft and the selling on of the stolen goods abroad.

We want our public spaces back, we want to feel safe walking down our streets at night, we want our youngsters to be able to grow up without the threat of drugs and we want to be able to live in our homes without our peace being shattered by anti-social behaviour..............."

Source: Posted on Safer Meath Campaign on 26 July at 16:01

At the follow up meeting (Newgrange Hotel, 27th July) a working committee was formed with Peadar Tóibín TD as Chairperson and a number of local representatives from all walks of life volunteering and taking on roles.

We are expecting to hear more in coming months and we understand that the intention could be to follow the path set by the Save Navan Hospital where public demand got positive results.