A Killarney Municipal District councillor has been elected as the first chair of the newly-formed Kerry Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP).

The inaugural meeting of the LCSP took place last week at the Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre. The new body replaces the former Joint Policing Committees and is being rolled out nationwide.
The partnership is designed to give local residents a stronger voice in identifying and addressing community safety issues. It brings together councillors, Council management, An Garda Síochána, community and resident representatives, business and education representatives, and statutory agencies including the HSE and Túsla.
At the first meeting, Cllr Niall Kelleher was elected chairperson, with Derry Ó Murchú from Dingle elected vice-chair.
Cllr Kelleher said the new structure will allow a more coordinated approach to safety issues across the county.
“The future of community safety in Kerry starts with all of us working as one,” he said. “A shared approach to problem-solving can ensure that potentially harmful situations do not develop. Interventions should be delivered proactively and in a joined-up way with other services.”
Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan welcomed the establishment of the partnership, calling it an important step in the Government’s new approach to community safety.
The next task for the Kerry LCSP will be to develop its own local community safety plan, supported by the National Office of Community Safety.

A woman in her 70s was critically injured following a single-vehicle car crash at Lisheenbaun, Castleisland.

The accident occurred at 11.40pm on Wednesday, December 10.

The female driver and sole occupant of the car was removed from the scene to Kerry University Hospital.

She remains in critical condition.

The road is closed pending a technical examination to be conducted by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

Local diversions are in place via Currow Village.

The N21 Castleisland–Tralee and N22 Tralee–Farranfore roads are not affected.
 
Gardaí are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward.
 
Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N23 in the Lisheenbaun, Castleisland area between 11:20pm and 11:50pm are asked to make it available to investigating Gardaí.
 
Anyone with information is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064-6671160, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
 
Investigations are ongoing.