Donegal trashing has to stop, according to Mary T Sweeney, Aontú representative in Donegal.
The Aontú General Election candidate for Donegal, Mary .T Sweeney has strongly condemned the government’s approach to Covid-19 in Donegal in recent days and the establishment of a Garda hotline to report Covid breaches.
Ms Sweeney said: “I am deeply angered at the direction this government is taking when it comes to Donegal. It is dangerous to start asking neighbours to turn against and report other neighbours.
“I want to know where did this “touting” idea generate from. Was it supported by all Donegal Deputies from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Fein and Independents? What impact will this negativity have on the great work done by the Donegal Tourism Sector?”
Ms Sweeney said the Garda phoneline is “the sort of curtain twitching attitude I thought we’d left back in the 1950s.”
The phone number – 074-9167101 – was launched this week to make it easier for people to let An Garda Síochána in Donegal know about parties, wakes, beach parties and secondary school pupils congregating socially.
Ms Sweeney said: “We in Aontú would encourage the people of Donegal to look out for one another, to make sure the old or vulnerable person nearby has enough fuel in for the fire, to make sure nobody is feeling isolated or alone.
“This is the approach we need – more carrot less stick – we do not want to become The Valley of the Squinting Windows. A little bit of cop on and common sense is what’s needed here”, she concluded.