‘Historic’ Donegal Sinn Féin meeting with PSNI
L-R: Cllr Jack Murray, P�draig Mac Lochlainn TD, Cllr Gerry McMonagle, Jon Burrows (Derry PSNi Commander), Insp Trevor McKeown & Insp Mike Winters.
A meeting between three Sinn Féin representatives from Donegal and senior officers of the PSNI has been described as “frank and positive”.
A Sinn Féin delegation consisting of Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, Inishowen Councillor Jack Murray and Letterkenny Councillor Gerry McMonagle met today with senior officers of the PSNI in Derry in order to discuss cross-border co-operation in tackling criminality in the border area.
Commenting after the meeting Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: “Sinn Féin in Donegal is currently engaged in an extensive campaign to tackle crime and lobby for increased garda resources in the border area. As part of this campaign, we have undertaken a massive survey of communities in Donegal in order to accurately assess the attitudes and perceptions of crime in the county.
“We also meet and engage regularly with the Gardaí in Donegal.
“Today’s meeting with the PSNI in Derry was an initiative that was instigated by growing concerns as to the activity of cross-border crime and a perception that gangs can ‘border hop’ with ease after committing burglaries and other offences.
“The meeting was frank and positive. The PSNI officers we met with gave a commitment to co-operating with the Gardaí in this regard. They also outlined the joint work that both policing structures are engaged in and discussed the regular meetings that take place in relation to cross-border crime.
“We agreed to follow up on these meetings to ensure the prevention of cross-border crime is a priority.”
Cllr. Jack Murray said “I used this engagement as an opportunity to highlight the growing concern in Inishowen, in relation to criminals escaping across the border after breaking into businesses and homes in the peninsula.
“I welcome the response from the PSNI representatives present, who were aware of the situation. They stated that there is regular engagement with the Gardaí on this matter. They also committed to continuing this co-operation in order to catch the criminals responsible for these break-ins.”
Letterkenny Councillor Gerry McMonagle made the PSNI aware of the increasing problem in Letterkenny of criminals escaping across the border after committing robberies in the town.
“There have been numerous reports of items stolen during burglaries in Letterkenny turning up for sale in Derry. I pressed the PSNI to tackle this problem and liaise with their garda counterparts in Donegal on the issue. They have committed to doing so and I will follow up on this at future meetings.”
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Weather for Donegal
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 28 mph
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