A LARGE number of Travellers have left Ballybofey after illegally parking 20 caravans at a supermarket car park.
Some of the vehicles were later driven in the direction of Donegal Town.
It’s also understood some of the Traveller families involved had been hoping to set up home at an illegal site in Convoy in the past two weeks.
The removal of the caravans today followed a night when the town was virtually ‘Locked Down’ as pubs, shops and other businesses closed and Gardai sealed off the Supervalu supermarket site.
Tonight local councillor Patrick McGowan said there was “immense relief” in the Twin Towns.
He said Garda resources were stretched throughout the incident and called on the deployment of the Defence Forces.
“I believe the Army should be available to back up under-strength Gardai especially in cases such as happened in Donegal town, Ballybofey and Convoy recently,” said Cllr McGowan.
“Local Gardai members could be putting themselves in danger’s way if there’s insufficient Gardai available at anyone time to deal with routine policing and at the same time manage situations such as we have experienced this last while when a large contingent of Travellers arrived in town.
“When this group arrived they were parking illegally without having made any prior arrangements to locate a suitable site. Local residents and business owners were clearly worried and requested more Gardai to be present.
“I believe businesses are paying enough taxes and rates with out having to pay for private security as well.”
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