ANOTHER week, another spate of shocking crimes in rural areas across Fermanagh. 

 

Eyebrows have been raised at the latest statistics released by the PSNI stating rural crime in Fermanagh has fallen by over 30 per cent in the past year, with all evidence pointing to the contrary. 

A primary school and the homes of three elderly ladies were the callous thieves’ latest targets last week. 

 

On Sunday, September 20, St Naile’s Primary School in Kinawley got off to a cruel start to the new term when the school was broken into around 9pm. Offices in the school were ransacked, and a the thieves made off with a sum of money. 

 

The previous day, Saturday, September 19, the homes of three older ladies from Pettigo were burgled. The thieves once again escaped with a sum of cash. The houses, part of a terraced row on Mill Street in the village, were unoccupied at the time however the three ladies were said to be very shaken and upset at the invasion of privacy. 

 

When asked by the Fermanagh Herald, Inspector Roy Robinson said rural crime in the county had fallen by approximately 32 per cent this year. He added the figures related to agricultural-based activities. 

 

Stating the police had no desire to “hide behind statistics”, Insp Robinson said: “There is no acceptable level of crime in the rural community or indeed elsewhere. And for PSNI, one victim is one too many.”

 

Many have questioned the police figures, with one councillor stating they did not compare with those just miles across the border. 

Cllr John Paul Feeley, who is chairman of the Cavan Joint Policing Committee, said: “The stats here show something entirely different. One thing that may be affecting them may be the fact that many people don’t bother reporting incidents any more as they may feel there’s no point.”

 

Cllr Feeley added there had been a drastic reduction in Garda numbers in border areas, as well as the closure of numerous Garda Stations in areas of west Cavan and Leitrim, which may be leading to the current spike of crime in south Fermanagh.