AN isolated Inishowen
community living in fear of burglars are arming
themselves with the shafts of pick-axes and
bill-hooks.
People in north Inishowen including Carndonagh,
Glengad and Malin Head are so anxious about an
ongoing spate of break-ins, they are now preparing
to defend themselves and their homes. The burglaries
have also led a group of local men to mount nightly
shift-watches for suspicious vehicles and activity.
And such is the growing level of fear among
families, a local agricultural co-operative has sold
out of shafts for pick axes and bill-hooks. Staff at
the Inishowen Co-Op in Carndonagh confirmed
yesterday that between 20 and 30 such shafts had
been bought by ordinary householders in recent
weeks.
"We sold between 20 and 30 shafts in the last while.
Obviously, some are being bought for what they're
intended for but a lot of people are buying them
because there is a level of fear at what's
happening," said one staff member.
Meanwhile, up to a dozen men from the Malin Head,
Glengad and Carndonagh areas have formed an
unofficial community patrol service.
"As a response to their wives and children who are
absolutely terrified in their own homes, these men
are going out in their own cars every night and are
taking it in shifts to patrol the area. They are
keeping in contact with each other by mobile phone
and are staying out from night-fall to dawn," said
one source.
Inishowen Garda Inspector David Kelly yesterday
confirmed that officers are investigating 14
break-ins across the peninsula since the start of
February. The burglaries took place in Speenogue,
Burt; Dundrean, Bridgend; Carnashanna, Burnfoot;
Mullins, Carndonagh; Drumaville, Malin; Culdaff;
Magherard, Carndonagh; Carrowtrasna,Greencastle;
Portaleen, Glengad and a filling station in Muff.
Asked about people who were now prepared to defend
themselves, he said: "We have no information about
that but we would recommend that people work with us
rather than on their own.
"We have been getting great feedback from the public
locally and we would ask for that to continue. We
have increased our patrols in the last week and a
half and are following certain lines of inquiry,"
said Inspector Kelly.
A number of local politicians recently met with
district Garda Superintendent Paul Glynn, amid
accusations that not enough Garda resources are
being deployed to tackle the problem. In a joint
statement, Sinn Féin councillor Daren Lalor and
North Inishowen Sinn Féin candidate Sean Ruddy said
they were "encouraged" by what the local
superintendent outlined as his strategy to deal with
the problem.
"We were encouraged by his positive attitude towards
the community taking ownership of the Joint Policing
Committee. Sinn Féin believe that the Joint Policing
Committee that is to be established shortly, can
only reach its full potential if it's led from grass
roots up," they said. Senator Cecilia Keaveney said
she was assured by Supt. Glynn that Garda resources
were not the problem.
"Resourcing for Inishowen is not at the core of
resolving this matter and more patrols will be put
in place," she said. |
