COUNCILLORS are singing from the same hymn sheet, in questioning the viability of Limerick Regeneration’s move to build on estates, “where there is ongoing criminality”. Brendan Kenny, CEO of regeneration, was told this week – “the biggest challenge is that of law and order – this has to be dealt with before any more building commences. Warned Cllr Joe Leddin: “The law, as it stands, is not on the side of the Garda Siochana in terms of leniency towards anti-social activity – the law must be changed to reflect the reality on the ground”.
Cllr Pat Kennedy said: “in other European countries, people do not terrorise their neighbours, like it happens here.
“There is a hopelessness in Southill – no one is taking the hooligans on, but the government is responsible for law and order – there is no law and order in O’Malley Park – young gardai are being laughed at and people are too afraid to ring them.
“There is no point in new houses if law and order is not being administered, and I want Minister Phil Hogan, and the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, to be alerted – we must invite them to see the situation on the ground in O’Malley Park, Keyes Park etc., where the ordinary people are not being protected.
“Unless we get law and order we don’t deserve to be here as public representatives.
“I feel that Mr Kenny must set out the aims of Regen on the southside”.
Mr Kenny had told a housing meeting that, with the co-operation of a number of agencies, including the Garda Siochana, The Probation Office and Social Welfare Department etc., he intends to produce a specific case study on Keyes Park in terms of the make up of families there.
Voicing his reservations to the Limerick Post, Cllr Joe Leddin said:
“While I am an advocate of construction, I question the viability of building where there is ongoing criminality.
“We spent 25million punts allocated on a remedial works scheme in Southill between 1999 and 2004 – we should have spent the money on social structure projects – education, sports, etc – as it is, all those houses built are now gone – they were demolished as part of regeneration – in Clarina Park, 40 houses have been demolished”.
Cllr Pat Kennedy added:
“The good people who remain on the estates must also be protected”.
Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon said that new houses he officially opened as mayor in 1997 are gone.
He referred to the situation in Boston, where residents who do not respect authority are evicted.
“It will come to that here – if people don’t respect their neighbours they are not entitled to a house – the problem goes on all the time in Fairview, despite going through all the courts, but if it takes change in the Constitution to get these people out, so be it”.
Cllr John Gilligan said the problem predates regeneration.
“We built well but then we walked away from the areas where organised gangsters are challenging our fight to run the estates – our gardai have done a great job in tackling major gangsterism but we allowed the lower level crime to slip.
“There has to be a penalty for a crime – things will not get better unless we make a stand – regeneration must be pushed and not impeded by a small gang”.
Cllr Kennedy’s proposal that the council submit a full report to the Taoiseach and relevant ministers was accepted, as was Cllr Leddin’s recommendation that the Garda Siochana be consulted in the preparation of the report.
Construction began recently as part of the Moyross Regeneration Programme but despair is being felt in areas of Southill as cllr Pat Kennedy says no one is taking on the hooligans. Brendan Kenny told of challenges to law and order in estates
