Local TD meets senior Gardaí to discuss Edenderry tragedy and community policing in Offaly

Independent TD Carol Nolan has met with Chief Superintendent Anthony Lonergan, the Divisional Officer for Laois/Offaly along with Inspector Barry Collins to discuss the ongoing community aftermath of the arson attack in Edenderry.

The need for additional resources to enable greater level of community policing right across the county was also discussed following the tragic murder of Mary Holt and Tadgh Farrell in December 2025.

The meeting took place in Deputy Nolan’s Leinster House office on Wednesday, January 28 and was described by her as “highly productive, forthright, insightful and reassuring."

Both Chief Superintendent Lonergan and Inspector Barry Collins emphasised the urgent need for active community engagement with An Garda Síochaná, while also stressing their commitment to deliver enhanced levels of garda visibility.

Speaking on the need for the talks, Deputy Nolan explained: "I asked for this meeting because of the many people who have come to my constituency offices both in the immediate aftermath of the Edenderry tragedy and indeed recently, to convey their sense of shock and their demand for greater levels of public safety.

I communicated those concerns clearly and respectfully to Chief Superintendent Lonergan and Inspector Collins, and both responded with admirable levels of empathy and professionalism."

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She continued: "My clear sense following the meeting is that no stone is being left unturned with both stressing the urgent need for reciprocal levels of engagement from the community, which will be treated confidentially and with understanding.

I also raised a number of other issues such as the need for additional and guaranteed opening hours in our rural garda stations; the need for all local and national organisations to work together to prevent anti-social behaviour and a co-ordinated effort to address the growing issues around farm trespassing and illegal activities such as lurching."

Carol Nolan TD commended the ongoing work that she was informed on throughout the meeting. She said: "I was struck by how much work is going on, on the ground, without much fanfare, but which is delivering great results. This includes educational outreaches and youth diversion programmes all of which have received very positive feedback from participants.

I assured both of them that I would continue to strongly advocate for additional resources and allocations in terms of new gardai being assigned to the county.”

Deputy Nolan concluded: "There is a lot of positive and constructive work going on, but we shouldn’t kid ourselves that there is not a lot of work to do in order to ensure that communities right across Offaly feel safe and protected.

That can only be done achieved through tougher laws, additional gardai, enforcement, and active community engagement right across the board from the Local Authority to youth and rural organisations all working to deliver progress."