Calls for the installation of lighting in an area of Letterkenny where a young woman was brutally attacked last month will be heard tomorrow.
Councillor Gerry McMonagle (SF) will bring forward a motion at tomorrow’s Letterkenny Municipal District meeting calling for lighting to be put in place at the bandstand at the top of Market Square.
Shanan Reid McDaid (18) sustained bruising to her face, a broken nose, a black eye and chipped teeth in the horrific early morning attack at Cara House in Market Square just weeks ago.
Speaking to the Donegal News Cllr McMonagle said while much progress has been made to make the area safer, the issue of the lack of lighting remains a concern.
“There has been a lot of work carried out in the area in recent times to make it safer, such as the cutting back of shrubs and trees.
“It is an area that has seen quite a bit of anti-social behaviour and we have received complaints of that nature, with particular emphasis on the area to the back of the bandstand. It is pitch dark there, and there have been calls to open up the area to make people feel safer.”
Cllr McMonagle said he was happy with the response from gardaí and the local council in the wake of the recent incident, but he added those behind anti-social incidents must be made accountable.
“CCTV is being upgraded in the town and the gardening section of the Council have pinned back the trees in the Market Square area.
“One of the things that came out of the Tidy Towns report was that the judges recommended opening the area of Market Square a bit more and making it more friendly and inclusive,” he said.
“The back of the bandstand area is where people are gathering at night time and messing. There is a lot of work being done by the Council and gardaí to help combat this, but it is also down to the individuals involved to take responsibility for their actions.”
Cllr McMonagle said the issue must be dealt in tandem with a more robust approach to ensure ‘alcohol free’ zones are adhered to.
“There is underage drinking going on in that area, and we know that. There are signs in a number of locations in the town regarding an alcohol ban, but I think we need to look more at how to implement these.”
Shanan in the immediate aftermath of her horrific ordeal.
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