People living in fear after weekend burglaries

People living in fear after weekend burglaries


Ciara Galvin
ciaragalvin@mayonews.ie

A County Councillor described a spate of burglaries over the weekend in his electoral area as ‘devastating’.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday (Monday), Cllr Damien Ryan said he did not want to strike fear into communities in South Mayo, but said he believed it was only a matter of time until there was a  fatality as people take extra measures in protecting their homes.
Cllr Ryan was speaking after a weekend which saw two homes in South Mayo and a holiday home in East Mayo broken into, while a calf cage was also stolen from a farmyard in Hollymount.
The councillor said he had seen several cases where legal owners of firearms were ‘dusting them down in preparation for what may, or may not occur’.
“People are living in fear,” he added
In Pontoon on Saturday morning two televisions were taken from a holiday home in Knocknagleanna. According to Castlebar Superintendent JJ Keane a red car was seen in the area and anyone with information is asked to contact Castlebar Garda Station.
Cllr Ryan said as a result of the burglaries last weekend at the Ballymartin area of Kilmaine and at Brodella, Shrule, people are already waiting to see what is going to happen next weekend.
Speaking to The Mayo News about the South Mayo burglaries, Superintendent Joe Doherty in Claremorris Garda Station said gardaí believe both incidents may be connected and they could also be related to burglaries in Headford.
A dark coloured car, possibly a Volkswagen Passat was reported to have been seen in the Kilmaine area where a homeowner interrupted two assailants.
In response to why the area has become such a target for burglars, Cllr Ryan believed it is the area’s close proximity to the motor-way, providing a quick getaway for criminals and raised the issue of decreasing garda numbers.
The councillor said he brought the issue to the attention of Chief Supt Tom Curley at the joint policing meeting, who told the councillor that possible extra resources could be put in areas with increased burglaries.
“As garda numbers have dropped quite a bit in Ballinrobe, the Chief Superintendent might be able to deploy lost resources here,” said Ryan.
Superintendent JJ Keane and Supt Doherty appealed to anyone with information about the burglaries to contact Castlebar or Claremorris Garda Station.

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