HELP YOUR NEIGHBOURS Crime fears meeting hears call for more Garda resources

West Donegal communities were urged to look out for their neighbours and to lobby for increased Garda resources at a public meeting on community safety in Kincasslagh on Saturday night.

Up to 200 people filled the Kincasslagh hall for the meeting, which came in response to community concerns over incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour that residents said have gripped the area for the past three years.

Michelle Doherty of Kincasslagh, who chaired the meeting, called on public representatives to bring the communities’ concerns about garda resources to decision-makers, “so our community can feel safe to live in rural Ireland again”.

Representatives of youth agencies working in the area also encouraged people to become involved with local programmes, to provide models of active citizenship for area youth.

The meeting was the third called in recent weeks by community activist Micheál Mac Giolla Easbuig, and followed a meeting of gardaí, Health Service Executive representatives and youth programmes and a second meeting of leaders of Rosses communities.

Read Carolyn Farrar’s full report in today’s Donegal Democrat and Donegal People’s Press.