The Mayor of Donegal has said Garda management have serious questions to answer over the burglary epidemic which is sweeping the county.
In a hard-hitting interview with Donegal Daily, Cllr Frank McBrearty said not enough is being done to patrol the border areas where criminals are crossing.
The Mayor spokes as two more pensioners in Inishowen were terrorised in their homes overnight by a gang believed to be from Derry.
Mayor McBrearty said the Garda Chief Supterintendent for Donegal and the Assistant Commissioner for the North West Division need to reassess their approach to policing here.
“It is simply not working and yet another two burglaries by a gang form across the border last night is proof of that.
“The high-end management have serious questions to answer. At this stage the people of Donegal are entitled to answers.
“I am not advocating closing the borders because we have excellent relationships with the public in Derry but we need to man those borders now,” he said.
Mayor McBrearty also slammed Donegal’s elected representatives for not raising the issue in the Dail and the Seanad.
“I am the Mayor of the county and I am asking those questions. The people of Donegal deserve protection and they deserve answers,” he said.
He said he did not accept that a lack of Garda manpower as an excuse for not being able to stop the spate of burglaries.
“As far as I’m concerned the Gardai have enough intelligence on the ground and they know well who many of these boys are.
“Ordinary Gardai are just putting in their shifts but Garda management need to direct these resources.
“They need to use their resources in a more efficient way. Crime in Donegal is down when it comes to drink driving and other roads matters.
“But there has been a huge jump in this type of crime and resources now need to be deployed to tackle this current issue,” he said.
He added that, if necessary, the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter needs to set up a special taskforce to tackle the problem of border crime.
Tags:
