Ballaghaderreen Concerned Citizens organised this protest after the teenager was allegedly attacked in the town last Friday morning.

Many speakers called for more gardai to be urgently sent to the town.

The man in his 30s appeared before Longford District Court yesterday charged under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

Senator Murphy told the Seanad he wants Justice Minister Helen McEntee to debate the crisis in the chamber.

Those in the areas affected by the spate of burglaries have been expressing their anger at the rising crime levels.

The alleged assault took place in the early hours of Friday morning the 20th of September on Bridge Street in Carrick-on-Shannon.

The occupants of the car were disturbed during a break in and left the scene in a black VW Golf.

It was revealed at the meeting that the amount of Gardaí stationed in the Castlerea/Boyle district has decreased by 50% since 2012.