Donegal North East TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn will be seeking a progress report from the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter and senior management in An Garda Síochána as to what has been done since they received Sinn Féin’s detailed ‘Impacts and Attitudes to Crime in Donegal Survey’ last year.
He was speaking at a Donegal Sinn Féin press conference on the issue of crime in the county, where he was joined by Sinn Féin representatives, Cllrs Mick Quinn, Gerry McMonagle and Jack Murray.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said the survey, which was carried out face-to-face with 500 people in the north and east of the county provided sound scientific evidence of the need for greater garda resources in Donegal.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: “Last year Sinn Féin members in Donegal interviewed people across the north and east of the county to assess their opinions on crime and garda responses.
“Some of the most startling statistics revealed that over a quarter of people do not feel safe in their own community, just under a third had been a victim of crime or anti-social behaviour in the last five years and 79% of people would like to see an increase in garda patrols.
“These statistics are further compounded by the unprecedented crowds that turned out in Manorcunningham for the public meetings following the brutal robberies of elderly people.
“So now, a year after we presented our findings to the Minister for Justice, the Garda Chief Superintendent in Donegal and submitted it to be included in the County Donegal policing plan, the question has to be asked, ‘what has been done’?
“Sinn Féin will not stand for inadequate garda resources in our communities. Our people deserve to feel safe in their own homes.
“Excellent work has been done by communities in establishing community alert and neighbourhood watch groups, but in order for these groups to reach their full potential they need the proper garda resources to assist them.
“Donegal Sinn Féin are now challenging the two Government TDs in Donegal as well as all the Government supporting councillors to bring Minister Shatter to Donegal as soon as possible to hear first hand from our communities and the victims of crime about their serious concerns”.
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