Community Watch formed for Parish.

Last Monday I attended a very well supported meeting in Dunderry Hall,where the existence of a newly formed Community Watch Scheme was announced.The executive committee introduced themselves and Macra Na Feirme and Gardai representatives gave a broad outline of the ambit of the Scheme.
That the meeting was so well attended is no surprise to me as the plague of robberies that has been inflicted on the Parishioners is well documented in the pages of the blog.
Clearly many people are living in fear,as rural society becomes more fragmented due to the demise of the public houses ,the no drink driving rules ,the lack of public transport and public lighting in rural areas,the loss of post offices ,the emigration of the young and fit ,the absolute distrust of banks and financial institutions and the shortage of money generally.
The executive will be holding more meetings over the coming months to encourage participation and advise on security generally.
As far as I could deduce the most practical advice is to look out for your neighbour and always be observant to suspicious goings on.And to report these to the Gardai in confidence on the basis that it is better to be safe than sorry.
Many people in the Parish would be aware that the Parish was often swamped in bygone years with Gardai trying to catch people for driving with excess alcohol on board and many families have had members caught.
It seems to me that the old adage "Always keep a civil distance from a Priest and a Peeler"still has currency with many in the Parish as a result.
It is not my function to either applaud nor condemn this state of affairs and some of my best friends are in both professions , but I have no hesitation in advising that when it comes to these life changing larcenies I personally would have no problem in talking to local Garda Peter Mulryan if the occasion arose.He can be contacted either at Trim or Kilmessan  and assures that matters will be handled discretely.
I understand that arrangements are in place to keep a watch on the vehicles of Massgoers to stop robberies of contents and vehicles.(Some reflection on society),
Super Gormley,(I think that is her name) advised that nationally about 24 per cent of robberies are solved and that this has broad application here too.
My intelligence is that the robberies that have taken place have been perpetrated by either persons from within the County or opportunistic scumbags from without who know their was here.Seemingly some stolen property has been recovered ,
I would guess that the identities of those involved are known to the Gardai by and large and that every effort is being made to bring them to justice.
There has never been a Garda stationed in the Parish and our ancestors managed to ensure the smooth running of society within the limits of the law.
It would be a shame were our generation to fail to uphold this tradition with the additional input of our local Garda,whose kids play with our Club.