4th July 2022
Built about 110 years ago, the 19th century building on Fitzgibbon Street, Dublin 1 has been largely unoccupied since it closed as a Garda Station in 2011.
As part of the North East Inner City (NEIC) Project and as recommended in the Mulvey Report published in February 2017, funding was granted for the full re-development of Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station.
This period, three-storey building required extensive refurbishment to bring it up to functionality but following four years of works, it is now a modern, state of the art station.
These works, completed in October 2021 included a complete reconfiguration and re-design as well as new internal walls, ceilings and floors. The former barracks has a new carpark and surrounding landscape that now has electric car charging points, and the building has been fitted throughout with new fixed furniture.
Most notably, the station now features a bespoke Crime Victim Support Suite, the first of its kind in Ireland. Its facilities include several specially designed spaces that will allow Gardaí to cater for the varied and sometimes complex needs of victims in a compassionate and dignified way.
At the core of every step of the design process, was the need to create a centre of community policing. A ‘Community Response Team’ at the station will provide for the Garda response to issues highlighted by local residents.
An ‘Events Office’ to deal with concerts and GAA games at nearby, Croke Park will also operate from the building.
Another unique element of the community based services provided at the refurbished station is a Community Hub which is available to local community groups and organisations to avail of on a regular basis. This area has a full conference room, an ICT room and a community lobby for locals to gather, as well as a fully functioning kitchenette.
Among the Garda Units that will now begin operating from Fitzgibbon Street are the Divisional Protection Services Unit (DPSU) which is responsible for supporting victims of Domestic Abuse and Gender Based Violence.
There are no traditional ‘cells’ for those who have been arrested – suspects will be held in nearby Mountjoy station - while victims will be questioned by Gardaí in comfortable and more accommodating ‘rest rooms’ in Fitzgibbon Street.
A ‘Welfare Room’ is also now available to all Garda Personnel to take time to focus on their own wellbeing too, particularly in times of stress or following a traumatic incident.
In all its new facilities and its unique, fit-for-purpose design, Fitzgibbon Garda Station represents the future of community based policing in Ireland and its advantages in keeping people safe.
