The Minister for Justice has declined to comment on his decision to decline media from attending meetings of Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSP).
A number of local representatives have expressed their confusion and frustration at journalists not being allowed into certain meetings of Mayo’s new LCSP.
The new body, which replaces the former Joint Policing Committee (JPC) and is designed to highlight and tackle law and order issues in the county, has controversially agreed to meet behind closed door without a media presence for all of its quarterly meetings this year except one.
At the inaugural meeting of Mayo’s LCSP, Crossmolina-based Councillor Michael Loftus was elected as chairman of the body.
However, instructions on the restriction of the press’ presence at the meetings of the partnership have reportedly come from central government in line with “national protocols” outlined by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan.
Multiple local representatives speaking to The Connaught Telegraph expressed their frustration at the situation, such as former councillor and garda officer Christy Hyland who said; “A committee like this one should have nothing to hide but the decision to exclude the media creates a public perception that there is.”
Similarly, Castlebar-based Independent Councillor Michael Kilcoyne said; “While it may suit some people to hold the meetings in secret, such an approach does not serve the common good.”
MidWest Radio contacted the Department of Justice for comment today on the matter.
In response his Department issued the following brief reply; “Unfortunately the Minister is not available for interview at the moment. He will be available in future for local media appearances in relation to LCSPs.”
