Town’s streets deserted of children as parents react to two abduction attempts

The streets of a Donegal town has been left deserted of children as parents keep them indoors after a child abduction scare.

Parents in Buncrana are refusing to allow their children outside after two separate abduction attempts this week within hours of each other. The incidents happened on Monday afternoon in the Bridgend and Buncrana areas.

Gardaí are reviewing CCTV footage in a bid to locate a silver or light blue car their believe was involved in the incidents.

It is believed the driver of the car exposed himself to the children. The man is reported to have offered them sweets to get into his car.

According to Councillor Ciaran MacLochlainn, parents on the peninsula are living in fear.

“There is a genuine fear and many parents are refusing to allow their children outside the front door.

“I have four children myself and I will not let them out of my sight,” he said. “There was a couple of children out but they were being watched like hawks by their parents.

“After the horrific situation in Athlone, you simply cannot blame parents for being cautious."

The Sinn Féin Buncrana town councillor said that many parents are now talking about not allowing their children out to “trick or treat” at Halloween.

He appealed to people and businesses to cooperate with gardaí and allow them to get to the bottom of the investigation.

“Unfortunately, people are having to have ‘that conversation’ with their children about stranger danger and the evil that is in today’s world.

“But people need to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour and to do simple things like taking note of licence plates,” he added.

Gardaí are viewing CCTV footage and are liaising with the PSNI across the border in Derry.