Cash and cigarettes stolen during burglary at Culdaff shop

A substantial amount of cash and a large quality of cigarettes have been stolen in a burglary from a shop in Culdaff.

The burglary took place at McGuinness's shop in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Damage was caused to the shop and an office was ransacked during the break-in which took place around 5am. 

The shop was closed for a time on Tuesday as gardaí examined the scene.

A Garda spokesman said investigations into the burglary are ongoing and no arrests have been made. 

The break-in is the latest in a series of burglaries of homes and businesses in east Inishowen since before Christmas. St Columba’s Church in Ballinacrae and Greencastle Golf Club were among the premises targeted before Christmas.

The family business is run by county councillor Johnny McGuinness, who put out an appeal for information following the break-in.

Tributes paid to Inishowen traditional musician Anthony McHenry

The button accordion player was said at one time to be one of the main sources of music for the Moville and Greencastle areas

Mr McGuinnsess said such burglaries are causing fear in the community and there is a need for the whole community to be vigilant.

“I don't want to cause fear, but it would be nice for people to check in with elderly people who are on their own,” he said.

“We, like many other businesses, are finding it hard to make ends meet and something like this jeopardises the future of the business and the employment that the business provides for the local community. It creates a level of fear. 

“Up until now it has been Greencastle and Redcastle and Moville, but when it is on your doorstep it gets real for the people in the community here.”

He appealed for members of the public to be aware of unusual activity.

“It is up to everybody to be cognisant of what is happening around them and do what they can to prevent this from happening to themselves or one of their neighbours.”

The Fine Gael councillor thanked members of the public who have contacted him and the gardaí with information.

“Ultimately it will  be some of that information that we have been given so far that leads to the people who have done this being apprehended.”