Posted online: Feb 8th, 2010

The ongoing dissident republican activity in Donegal has highlighted the urgent need for more garda resources in the county.
The comments were made by Cllr Frank McBreaty as a garda search operation for three men with possible links to dissidents continued today (Thursday).
It follows an incident on Tuesday night at around 8pm when gardaí stopped a car containing a group of men acting suspiciously at a checkpoint at Cooladawson near Stranorlar.
A 49-year-old was arrested and taken to Letterkenny Garda Station for questioning under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
The three other men who were in the car fled the scene and ran off across fields.
The car in which the men were travelling was taken away for examination. A firearm was also recovered.
Cllr McBrearty says this week’s events prove that more garda resources are required near the border.
“It’s clear that additional manpower is needed given the increase in post office robberies and tiger kidnappings in rural areas. The gardaí are doing their best with the resources available to them.
“Some garda stations near the border are not open every day when the should be manned 24 hours a day because of the ongoing threats.
“At the end of the day, it costs more to repair the damage caused by an armed robbery than it does to put more gardaí on the streets.”
Searches continued this week with gardaí setting up a number of checkpoints near the border. The PSNI also established a checkpoint in the North to assist in the search operation.
Superintendent Vincent O’Brien confirmed that the search for the three men is centred between Stranorlar and Convoy in particular the areas of Cavan, Cooladawson, Gortletteragh and Rooskey.
“We are looking for three men who took to the fields after stopping at a garda checkpoint.
“We would appreciate any assistance in sightings of individuals in outhouses,” he said.
“People who have noticed anything suspicious at all in that area should contact gardaí in Letterkenny.
“I would also appeal to the public not to approach these individuals but to contact gardaí immediately,” Superintendent O’Brien added.