By Louise Doyle

SHOCKING footage of two incidents in broad daylight in Letterkenny shared widely on social media could be drug-related, a local councillor has said.

In one video, three men can be seen emerging from a car and attacking another vehicle parked in the Lower Main Street area on Wednesday of last week. The driver of the second car manages to get away from the scene, but only after mounting a footpath and colliding with another vehicle.

In another incident at Lower Main Street close to the taxi rank, three men appear to approach another man who subsequently strikes out at one of them with what appears to be a knife.

Cllr Gerry McMonagle said someone could have been killed or injured as a result of the actions of those responsible.

He said such incidents are on the rise locally, and he is aware of a number of families in Letterkenny who are under threat because their children have drug debts.

“These incidents are on the increase in Letterkenny, and unfortunately a lot of them are drug related. Drug gangs are following up on debts owed to them and are trying to extort the money back off people. Unfortunately, people in the local community are being caught up in it.

“I’m aware of families in Letterkenny who are under threat from people who are selling drugs because their children have possibly run up a drug debt and they are arriving at the family home threatening that they are going to do all sorts. We need to get a grip on this.

“I would say these incidents were drugs related. The issue of drugs is right across the board. There are a lot of different people involved in dealing drugs, it’s not related to any particular colour or creed.

“It’s a widespread, countrywide operation. There are people here in Donegal who are distributing drugs for people who are living in Dublin, Sligo or the North.”

Local councillors have requested a meeting with Chief Superintendent Goretti Sheridan, which is hoped will take place in the coming weeks.

“We’ve been saying for quite a long time that garda resources in Donegal are limited. People have seen these two incidents, but there are a lot more that people don’t see.

“We only have to see the statistics of those detected or convicted of drug driving on an almost weekly basis in Donegal to know that there is a prevalence of drugs in the local community.

“I would hope with the information collated from the CCTV and social media that those people will be identified and brought in for questioning.

“I understand the issues gardaí have with resources. In the past I met with the former garda commissioner. I brought him to a meeting of the Donegal Joint Policing Committee (JPC), where he heard firsthand of the difficulties we have, such as the border and all the pressures that brings, and the sea border. We have seen drugs found on beaches in Donegal in recent years.

“Donegal is a hotbed of activity and we need to get more garda resources to try to curtail the sale of drugs, and, more importantly, all the other violence that comes along with it.”