A quick-thinking politician used election poster cables to tie up a suspected burglar before handing him over to Gardai.
Donegal county councillor Mickey Doherty was preparing for a meeting at his office in Quigley’s Point when he was alerted to a suspicious van by a constituent.
Brave Cllr Doherty went to investigate and found a burglar hiding in some bushes outside a holiday home on the outskirts of the town.
Along with two other locals, the well-known Fine Gael councillor managed to nab the suspected thief.
“We knew straight away that the van should not have been at the house.
“It was 7pm and it was dark and the people who own the house live in America and use it as a holiday home.
“I pulled my car right up to the back of the van so they could not get away.
“We then heard a rustling in the bushes and we managed to grab a man,” revealed Cllr Doherty from Carrowkeel, Quigley’s Point.
The have-a-go hero then remembered he had cable ties which he had used to put up local election posters in his car.
“We didn’t want him struggling and we didn’t want to be accused of abusing him in any way so that kept him quiet,” he said.
When local Gardai arrived, they were gobsmacked to find the suspect bound and safe.
Cllr Doherty then went in the patrol car with Gardai and they managed to arrest another of the suspected gang members closeby.
The Donegal politician revealed his own home was broken into recently but the burglars were disturbed and left empty-handed.
Cllr Doherty, who is on the Joint Policing Committee on Donegal County Council, said the public has a responsibility to assist Gardai in tackling crime.
“Only for this woman came in to me and tipped me off that there was a suspicious van parked outside this house, the house would have been broken into.
“We have to be realistic and not expect the Gardai to be everywhere.
“We all have a role to play. When we called the Gardai, there were three patrol cars there within minutes.
“The Gardai are there to help but we have to help ourselves to tackle these thugs and protect our homes,” he said.
Tags:
