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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Jun 1991

Vol. 409 No. 4

Adjournment Debates. - Takeover of Home in County Donegal.

I wish to thank you for allowing me to raise this serious matter on the Adjournment, which has caused so much anxiety, apprehension and concern not alone in the Ballintra area, where the incident occurred, but throughout south Donegal.

The series of events commenced last Saturday night at about 11 p.m. when a gang of armed men took over the home of the family involved and held the five occupants of the house, including a seven months old baby, hostage until about 10 a.m. on Monday morning, a period of almost 36 hours. During that time a truck belonging to the family was commandeered and subsequently driven across the Border, ten or 15 miles away. Ballintra is ten or 15 miles from the Border, depending on which route you take. The truck was loaded with explosives and mortars and was parked outside a security installation near St. Angelos's Airport, Enniskillen. Fortunately, most of the explosives failed to detonate and, miraculously there were no injuries or loss of life.

There are a number of most serious and, indeed, critical dimensions to this incident. First, it indicates a sinister and disturbing development in the campaign of violence being waged in Northern Ireland and shows that there is no hesitation in using our territory to plan, initiate and launch a murderous raid on our neighbours just across the Border. Second, it is absolutely reprehensible that an innocent family could be subjected to the distressing and terrifying ordeal of being held hostage in their own house for almost two days not knowing what was to be the final outcome of their captivity. Third, such an incident heightens tension in an area where there has been perfect co-operation and harmony in the community. There is a mixed religious community in Ballintra and its surrounding area and there is an excellent relationship between both communities going back generations. It is a pity that this incident has been inflicted on this area.

This incident cannot be taken in isolation. Just over two years ago about 200 to 300 yards down the road, almost in the same townland, another event took place that ended in tragedy. On a Sunday evening a young man from Northern Ireland while visiting his girl friend was short dead in his car outside her house. The entire area was shocked and dismayed at this brutal cold blooded murder but in spite of the best efforts of the Garda Síochána I do not recall anyone ever being charged with this gruesome deed. It is only a fortnight since I had the sad duty to attend the removal of the remains of another victim of this violence, that of a Donegal county councillor. These events show that violence does not recognise any border. We all fervently hope and pray that peace and harmony will be achieved in Northern Ireland. In the meantime, we do not want County Donegal to become a tit for tat territory or a battleground to settle scores.

Since this incident in Ballintra came to light on Monday morning intensive Garda inquiries are under way. I request the Minister of State to ensure that every support is available to the Garda and any extra resources requested or needed should be granted immediately. Every effort must be made to ease the anxiety and tension caused by these incidents and the Minister of State should give a public assurance that the entire authority of his Department and the Government will be used to prevent a recurrence of these deeds. Perhaps the Minister of State could also let the House know what progress, if any, has been achieved since Monday in apprehending those responsible for holding this family hostage for almost two days.

On a somewhat more humane note, the hostage family in Ballintra are now without the means to earn their livelihood. Their lorry on which they depended was blown up. Perhaps the Minister would give the matter of adequate compensation his immediate attention. Their ordeal was terrifying enough without the extra worry and concern of a significant financial loss.

In conclusion, these events are the source of widespread concern throughout County Donegal and the people want an assurance that the Garda will be offered every assistance, and that everything possible will be done to ensure that there is co-operation on both sides of the Border to prevent a recurrence.

At the outset, I wish to express our outrage at the events which occurred over the weekend in Ballintra, County Donegal; and subsequently in County Fermanagh. Those events demonstrate again the complete disregard which the subversives show for the rights and lives of people on both sides of the Border. Nothing is allowed to stand in the way of the murderous campaign being waged by them, whether the right of a family in Donegal to the quiet enjoyment of their home or the risk created for the people of Fermanagh by the deployment of a lorry armed with mortars and explosives. We can be grateful only that the attack, which appears to have been directed at the Mount Angelo army base near Enniskillen was unsuccessful and that there was no loss of life as the base.

I would hope that the House will join me in condemning these actions and those responsible for perpetrating them. I would also hope that our response to those events will be to renew our resolve to ensure that the subversives do not succeed in their murderous campaign.

As to the events in Ballintra, we are informed by the Garda authorities that at 11 p.m. on Saturday, 1 June armed men broke into a home in Ballintra, County Donegal and held the five occupants, who included as Deputy McGinley said a baby of seven months, hostage until 10 a.m. on Monday 3 June. During that period, a lorry belonging to the owner of the house was stolen. That lorry was subsequently used in what appears to have been an attempted attack at Mount Angelo army base near Enniskillen at 10 a.m. on Monday 3 June. The Garda believe members of the Provisional IRA to have been responsible for both incidents.

I would like to assure the House that the incident is being actively investigated by the Garda, with all the resources at their disposal with the full support of my Department and assurance of the Government. As that investigation is continuing I do not wish to elaborate beyond what I have said on the detail of the incident itself or the nature of the investigation being conducted at this time.

I also wish to assure the House that additional measures are being taken by the Garda in the Donegal area. It would be self-defeating to reveal details of those measures to the House and Deputies will, I hope, understrand why I would prefer not to elaborate on them.

I would like to conclude by appealing to anybody who may have noticed anything suspicious in or around Ballintra over the weekend or who possesses any information about the incident which may be of assistance to contact any member of the Garda. Likewise, I would appeal to members of the public to report anything of a suspicious nature which may come to their attention in the future. It is only with the active assistance of the public that we can hope to defeat these subversive groups.

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