by Louise Doyle

FRESH calls will be made this week for park wardens at Letterkenny’s two parks in the wake of an alarming incident in which a group of teenagers threatened to sexually assault a child.

In May, we reported how a mum sounded alarm after a group of seven boys aged 13 and 14 had shouted unsavoury remarks towards her as she was in Letterkenny Town Park with her child.

The woman challenged the teenagers, asking them to “mind their language”, but told of how when the group moved towards the bamboo area they started shouting back, mocking her at first before shouting an extremely offensive comment of a criminal and sexual nature to her child.

The mum was left shocked following the ordeal, which has prompted a return to calls for park wardens.

Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District councillor Gerry McMonagle had told the Donegal News in the wake of the incident that he was “appalled” that such abuse would be directed towards a child.

Cllr McMonagle and other elected representative  have tirelessly called for park wardens. But their requests have been turned down due to a lack of funding.

He told this newspaper in May that he planned to push the matter once again in light of the terrifying ordeal for the mum and her child.

At tomorrow’s MD meeting, Cllr McMonagle, pictured left, will bring the issue under the spotlight again, when he tables a motion calling on the MD to revisit the request from elected members to appoint park wardens at Letterkenny’s two parks to ensure proper park management and address safety concerns raised by park users.

“It’s back to the old chestnut of us looking for park wardens. I think having a park warden in the parks during the day time certainly would help curb this type of behaviour. I intend to revisit this call again now. The funding was the issue previously.

“We have two very beautiful parks used extensively by the public and visitors and it is important that we protect that sanctuary and peacefulness, and that people can enjoy the park without feeling under threat. It is incumbent too on the young people who use the park that they treat the park and the other people who use the park with respect and consideration.

“If there’s a will, there’s a way and maybe we can look at the park attendant again to protect the asset, and to ensure that people feel comfortable and safe. There is an onus on us to protect people when we put these facilities in place,” Cllr McMonagle had told this newspaper.