Exclusive: TWO families have been forced to flee their homes after threats from Travellers.
The mothers and their children have moved out of their homes in Convoy, Donegal Daily has learned.
Residents in Convoy who are preventing Travellers for moving onto a site in the area say they are now the victims of intimidation.
A spokesman for the residents group told Donegal Daily that Travellers have began a campaign of intimidation by driving in to locals driveways before reversing away again.
This cycle is repeated every couple of hours by the Travellers as they attempt to break the residents resolve with the hope they will eventually allow them on the land even though the council has banned caravans from the site.
The Travellers attempted to get on the land on July 19 and then a couple of days later clashed angrily with Gardai when another attempt was made to access the area.
Prior to bollards being placed across the site, residents used their cars to prevent anyone from getting on the land.
The spokesman for the residents revealed the group are policing the area for themselves 24/7.
“We’re all doing our best, one of the group whose house actually faces the site has been sleeping on his couch for a week with the window open he has two dogs and they bark if they hear anything,” he revealed.
“If he does have to get up he will get in to the car and sound the horn to alert the rest of us that the Travellers are attempting to get on the site.
“We all fear that once they get on the land that will be that and they won’t be able to be moved off it.
“The Gardai have said it is a civil case so they can’t do anything but they have been extremely helpful.
“They have stepped up their campaign of intimidation however, and I know of two homes where two mothers took their children to stay with relatives nearby while their husbands stayed to look after the house.
“It is a very worrying situation for all involved and doesn’t seem like it will be resolved anytime soon.”
Tags:
