A Sinn Féin councillor has spoken out after a frightening incident in which an unknown male attempted to get into her car while she was inside it, raising concerns both about personal safety and the response to her report.
Lurgan Councillor Mary O’Dowd said the incident was “incredibly distressing” and has left her shaken.
She explained that she was alone in her car when the male tried to force his way in. Thankfully, the doors were locked and she was not physically harmed.
“I was unharmed but it was frightening and has left me shaken,” she said.
Cllr O’Dowd also expressed serious concern about what she described as a lack of urgency when she reported the incident.
“I did not feel supported or understood by the call handler as to how the incident had affected me,” she said. “When something like this happens, you expect it to be treated with seriousness.”
The Sinn Féin representative said the experience reinforced wider concerns about women’s safety, particularly for those carrying out public roles.
“Women should be able to go about their day, including their public duties, without fear of intimidation or harm,” she added.
Highlighting what she described as a stark irony, Cllr O’Dowd said: “I attended a workshop with the PSNI last Friday about safety for elected representatives where advice was given to report all incidents to police.”
