EXCLUSIVE: A man said he believes a tree in his garden saved the lives of his family after a car-bomb exploded outside their home.
Alan Coyle points to the tree outside his home which was hit by a device or shrapnel from a bomb. Pic copyright Donegal Daily.
Alan Coyle, 59, was left terrified after thugs targeted his home in Letterkenny, on Friday morning.
Alan was with his wife Geraldine and their 13 year old daughter Katie at Manor View Park when he heard a massive explosion at about 3.40am.
He noticed that two of his windows had been smashed and there was a smell of “sweet burning” all around his house.
He called the Gardai immediately who evacuated homes on the normally-quiet estate.
Alan noticed shrapnel in his garden and was then told by Gardai that his jeep had been severely damaged.
The front of Alan’s Mitsubishi Pajero jeep was badly damaged and the two front wheels were blown outwards.
At first light on Friday morning the Army Bomb Disposal team arrived in Letterkenny from Finner Camp army base in Ballyshannon.
The ground on which the device exploded beneath Alan’s jeep is still scorched. Pic copyright Donegal Daily.
Garda Inspector Pat O’Donnell has said he feared there may be secondary devices planted in the area.
The army left the area after two hours after being satisfied there were no more viable devices in the area.
Alan and other people on the estate were allowed to return to their homes at 6pm on Friday night.
Speaking yesterday for the first time, Alan, a former fisheries officer, told Donegal Daily he feels the tree in his front garden may have saved his family from being badly injured.
“I am almost certain of that. I think a device was thrown at the house, hit the tree and bounced back under the jeep.
“I think it then exploded and caused all the damage. Only for it hit the tree it could have came into my bedroom and God knows what kind of harm it would have done,” he said.
Alan pointed to a number of areas of damage including a hole in his bedroom window which was hit by debris which failed to smash the double glazing.
Two of his neighbours’ houses also have holes in them from where they were hit by debris.
The army bomb disposal team arrive to examine the scene of Friday’s explosion. Pic copyright Donegal Daily.
Alan says his daughter Katie is too terrified to return to the family home but hopes she will in a few days time.
He says he has his own theory about who is behind the attack and why but wants the message to go out that he is not involved in any criminality.
“There are all sorts of rumours out there but I want to state that this has nothing to do with drugs or there is no paramilitary thing.
“I have my own suspicions that it is connected to a dispute I was involved in. I just never thought it would be taken to this extreme,” he said.
But despite the horrific attack, Alan, who is well known in hunting circles, says he will not be intimidated out of his family home.
“I will not be moving. I will not be frightened out of my home.
“I have spoken to the Gardai who I have to say have been so professional in their approach in all of this. I will be improving my personal and home security but I will not be leaving my home,” he said.