New Mayo policing forum chair holds key to resolving media expulsion controversy

“Transparency and accountability to the general public and media are an important factor of the safety partnerships’ work"

The Department of Justice has stated that it is not its intention 'to limit media access to Local Community Safety Partnerships' after a major controversy blew up in Mayo over the issue.

The statement has been issued to Midwest Radio today on foot of enquiries by the station in regard to the matter.

When MidWest News yesterday sought to speak to Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan regarding the matter, a department spokesperson said: “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.”

Without seeking further comment, the department sent another statement to MidWest News today, indicating that it is not limiting media access.

The new body, Local Community Safety Partnerships in Mayo, replaces the former county Joint Policing Committee (JPC), and is designed to highlight and tackle law and order issues in the county.

But the forum controversially agreed to meet behind closed doors without a media presence when it last week elected its chair (Councillor Michael Loftus) and vice-chair (Tony Healy).

That meeting also decided to exclude the press from its meetings apart from one.

In today's statement, the department said the LCSPs “may hold as many meetings as required but must meet at least six times a year, including one public meeting, which all members of the community, including the media, can attend."

This indicates that it is up to the discretion of each LCSP to decide how many public meetings are held and to which the media are invited.

The department’s statement continued: “Transparency and accountability to the general public and media are an important factor of the Safety Partnerships’ work.

"The guidance provides that they will be able to facilitate media attendance at meetings at their discretion and by way of a request to the chair.”

It also said that guidance states that when a LCSP meeting does take place in private, "an agreed report of the meeting should be made publicly available and that such reports be shared directly with the media as part of a partnership’s communications strategy."

The statement confirmed that the Mayo LCSP’s decision to restrict media attendance at its meetings was made by its own members.

When contacted by The Connaught Telegraph, Councillor Loftus said he will be reviewing the department statement before making comment on the matter.

However, it is understood he is very much in favour of having the press covering the meetings with separate workshops being held in private when the need arises.