A county councillor has urged the Municipal District of Inishowen Council area manager to arrange immediately a meeting with the Garda Superintendent to brief council members on Garda personnel, numbers and resources.
Cllr Albert Doherty said there needs to be a meeting to further discuss policing in Inishowen, recent local crime responses, weekend policing and the Garda role in the local parish.
Councillor Doherty remarked,”During the recent election campaign and over the recent summer months many community groups as well as local residents have expressed their concerns at the increase in petty and more serious crime in the Inishowen area.
“Serious assaults,threats and robberies have occurred at petrol station outlets and a number of private homes have been burgled both while family occupants were in the house and while the family home was empty.
“A recent week end incident where family members were at a memorial mass for a dearly loved and returned to find their home entered and possessions taken was particularly distasteful and merits particular condemnation.
“In my own area,Carndonagh,the summer months has witnessed among others burglaries,attempted burglaries theft of work equipment and tools,cars interfered with,damage at and to sporting clubs,continued damage to facilities at the Barrack Hill costing up to five thousand euro and a recent robbery of money at and damage to a local cafe.”
He said councillors are messengers from the community to the council and to many other bodies including An Garda Siochana and are expected to raise pressing concerns.
“The community in turn await the responses received by Councillors to allay the grievances worries and anxieties highlighted.The questions shared with me locally include ‘Who are the Garda personnel living in our communities? How familiar are the Gardai with the needs and safety assurances required in our rural parish area?When are the Gardai to be found on the beat? What are the resources available for week ends and particulary at week end nights.”
The Sinn Fein politician said in Inishowen there is an apparent “knowledge deficit” about Garda resources and supports for the local communities.What will happen to or with the recently renovated garda station in Clonmany?A begging question from parishoners, he said.
“I believe that the newly established Municipal District of Inishowen and the newly elected members have the potential to deliver improved sevices for Inishowen and Co Donegal.
“I welcome the unanimous support received at the first meeting of the council from my fellow elected councillors.I trust that the meeting with the Garda Superintendent will occur later in the month and that safety benefits to all the people’s will result,” Cllr Doherty concluded.
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