Donegal fatal crash road closure allegedly delayed as sole garda had no support

A Garda was allegedly delayed in closing a road in west Donegal after a recent fatal crash due to having no support in the area.

At the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Sinn Féin Deputy Pearse Doherty raised the poor community engagement and lack of Garda resources in West Donegal with the new Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly.

Rev Sheila Johnson died following a single-vehicle collision on the R262 Glenties-Frosses road at Tullynaglaggin at around 3.50pm on Wednesday last, October 29.

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“We had a terrible tragedy on the roads recently where Sheila Johnson was killed,” Doherty said. “There was a Garda on that road but he couldn’t close the road because he had no signs. He had no lights.

“There was only one person on duty as far as I understand from Donegal Town right through to Gweebara. “Two other people had to be called on duty.”

The Commissioner shared the Deputy’s concerns and agreed that a response from the Garda Superintendent to Sinn Féin Cllr Brian Carr didn’t “reach the standard of response that a political representative should have got”.

Earlier this year, Cllr Carr had raised a number of serious concerns in relation to policing.

Doherty continued: “This is symptomatic of what Cllr Brian Carr has been raising, what I have been raising and others. There is a serious crisis in personnel in Donegal regarding Garda resources.

“And I understand there is a pressure in regards to Dublin and we’ve heard about the visibility and all the rest. It is coming at a cost to rural areas and it needs to be addressed.

“It had been highlighted by a public representative months beforehand and it has come to pass. It is unacceptable that we have a fatality on the road and the Gardai are not in a position to close the road. Either side of them for half an hour, there isn’t even a single Garda on duty at that time.”

Cllr Carr added: “I raised a number of serious concerns back in May with the Garda Superintendent and unfortunately recent events have shown my fears to be warranted.
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“My questions at the time were treated wholly inappropriately by the Superintendent and I am pleased today that Deputy Doherty has raised the matter with the Garda Commissioner and that he has agreed.

“I also believe west Donegal is crying out for more Garda resources. Before the realignment of Garda Community Engagement Areas, Sinn Féin called for a standalone Community Engagement Area for West Donegal given the vastness of the area and the unique challenges it presents.

“I hope that the new Garda Commissioner will now take Deputy Doherty’s advice on board and revisit the issue.”