A GARDA Sergeant in Killarney who developed a practical programme to educate the public on child seat safety in vehicles has been honoured with a special achievement award by Kerry County Council.
Following a safety enforcement campaign in 2016, it became apparent to Sgt Dermot O’Connell that many motorists were not aware of the law governing the area as well as the serious risks posed when children are not correctly restrained in vehicles.
Realising that enforcement alone was not sufficient to address the problem, he developed Operation Páistí to tackle the lack of awareness among motorists about how to travel with children safely and lawfully in vehicles.
Sgt O’Connell, who is the sergeant in charge at Killarney Garda Station, developed and designed bi-lingual information documents for distribution to all Killarney primary schools and a life-sized chart was designed to make it easier for children and parents to fully appreciate the legal height requirements.
As a result, in 2016, a total of 3,143 children and their parents received information on Operation Páistí through the Garda Schools Programme, delivered through Community Policing Gardaí, in the Killarney area.
The following year Kerry County Council supported the initiative and Operation Páistí signage was erected at key locations such as playgrounds to further increase awareness.
In 2018 garda management approved further expansion throughout the Kerry Division and Operation Páistí received a national Leading Light award from the Road Safety Authority and this year the Garda Commissioner incorporated Operation Páistí into the National Policing Plan.
Community policing gardaí all over Ireland will now deliver Operation Páistí to all primary schools to increase awareness with a view to reducing child fatalities on the roads.
Sergeant O’Connell, who was nominated for the award by Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Michael Gleeson, acknowledged the support of garda management and Kerry County Council.
He also highlighted the enormous contribution of community gardai in Killarney who delivered Operation Páistí to local schools and he thanked Garda Brendan O’Donovan, Garda Diane Collins and Garda Deirdre Quinn for their efforts.
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