OWNERS OF a small family run business in Bridgetown are this week “still in shock” following an armed robbery last Thursday evening.
A female member of staff was held at knifepoint while three masked intruders stole what was described as a “considerable amount of money” from McDonnell’s garage at approximately 7.30p.m.
The lady was uninjured in the attack, but was left “very upset” by the incident.
Speaking to the Wexford Echo one of the owners Mr John McDonnell expressed his concern regarding the incident.
“We are still in shock. It was a terrible thing to happen. The three men in balaclavas came in and one had a knife,” said Mr McDonnell.
He indicated that his primary concern is the safety of the female staff member, who was left “shook” afterwards.
It is believed that the attack was pre-planned by individuals who were observing the premises for a period of time.
The intruders may have had to wait outside for a suitable opportunity to enter when there were no other cars or customers around the shop.
“It was definitely planned,” noted Mr McDonnell, who runs the popular local business with his brother Michael McDonnell.
Anyone who may have witnesses any one acting suspiciously in the vicinity during the early evening of last Thursday is asked to contact Wexford Garda Station on 053 9165200.
Mr McDonnell also noted his support for calls for greater resources to be allocated to the area to deal with the on-going problem of crime.
The previous Sunday night, November 9th, a man in his 50s sustained facial injuries when he was assaulted in the car park adjacent to the Centra supermarket in the village.
The incident occurred shortly after 6p.m. and the victim was subsequently conveyed by ambulance to Wexford General Hospital for medical treatment.
Concerns regarding incidents of anti-social behaviour garnered the attention of local representatives during last Monday’s meeting of Wexford County Council.
South Wexford independent county councillor Ger Carthy noted at the conclusion of a presentation made by representatives from the housing section of the local authority, that he was particularly concerned about the unfinished housing estate Hazelwood in Bridgetown.
Cllr Carthy outlined to the chamber that an assault had occurred in the village the night previously and attributed part of the anti-social behaviour problems in the area to the on-going need to address the issue of adequate social housing provision in the village.
He asked council officials for an indication of how successful Wexford County Council has been in securing funding from central government to tackle the problems presenting themselves in Bridgetown.
The Our Lady’s Island man concluded by noting that there was an immediate need to boost the garda presence in rural Wexford, which he claims has been left in a vulnerable position, suggesting that the problems were escalating but it was not too late to address them he said: “We’re lucky not to be dealing with something like Moyross.”
Sinn Fein county councillor Mick Roche of Bridgetown, also issued a statement yesterday (Monday) in response to the armed robbery, supporting calls for resources to tackle criminal activity in the area, meanwhile stressing that while the village “needs investment, it does not need criticism.”
“Last Thursday evening’s armed robbery of a shop in Bridgetown shows the desperate necessity for immediate action to be taken to combat a criminal element that is acting with immunity across South Wexford,” said Cllr Roche. He also indicated that in the wake of these incidents he feared that the negative attention surrounding these events might tarnish the entire community, this he described as “simply hysteria”.
“The vast majority of people living in Bridgetown are hard working, decent people living in a community that has never been given its fair share of funding, time or effort by both local and national government,” said Cllr Roche. He continued: “There is a problem with crime, but stigmatising a whole community is wrong and will not help the situation.”
It is expected that the issue will be raised at the next meeting of the Joint Policing Committee of the council.