SF Cllr Mary O'Dowd 'distressed' after unknown male tried to force his way into her car in Lurgan - and concerned at PSNI call handler response
A Sinn Fein councillor has described an ‘incredibly distressing’ incident in which an unknown man tried to force his way into her car.
Cllr Mary O’Dowd was in her car alone in Lurgan town centre on Monday afternoon when the incident happened.
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Also a very shaken Mrs O’Dowd expressed her ‘extreme concern’ at the lack of urgency shown by the police when she reported the incident.
She said she didn’t feel supported nor understood by the call handler as to how the incident affected her.
Cllr O’Dowd said: “This was an incredibly distressing experience. I was alone in my car when an unknown male tried to force his way in.
"Thankfully the doors were locked. I was unharmed but it was frightening that has left me shaken,” said the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council councillor.
“I am also extremely concerned at the lack of urgency shown when I reported the incident,” she said
"I did not feel supported or understood by the call handler as to how the incident had affected me.
"When something like this happens, you expect it to be treated with seriousness. Women should be able to go about their day, including their public duties — without fear of intimidation or harm.
“The irony is I attended a workshop with the PSNI last Friday about safety for elected representatives where advice was given to report all incidents to police," said the councillor.
A PSNI officer said officers did attend the scene but ‘were unable to locate the individual involved’. An officer also added that police had been trying to contact Mrs O’Dowd to reassure her they are working trying to identify the suspect.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police in Lurgan received a report of a man acting suspiciously in Edward Street shortly after 4pm on Monday 19th January.
"It was reported that the man, described as being around 5’6” tall, of slim build, aged in his 40’s and wearing a black hooded coat, attempted to gain access to a parked car with a female occupant inside.
"As the doors of the car were locked at the time, the man failed to gain access and left the scene on foot. The occupant of the car was left badly shaken following the incident. Officers attended the scene but were unable to locate the individual involved.” Inspector Nick Browne, Lurgan Local Policing Team said: “Following the report we have made a number of attempts to make contact with occupant of the car to provide her with reassurance that we are working to identify the person involved.
“We take reports of this nature extremely seriously and officers would ask anyone who witnessed this incident, or who may have captured dash-cam or CCTV footage from the area which could help with their investigation, to call them at Lurgan on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 966 19/01/26.
"A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”