by Alan Jacques
RESIDENTS in Garryowen are furious over the response from Limerick City and County Council to their concerns over anti-social behaviour in the area.
One angry resident went as far as calling the local authority “liars” for stating it had received no complaints of anti-social behaviour in Singland or Garryowen.
Commenting on last week’s Limerick Post front page article about elderly residents being terrorised by a mob of up to 100 drunken teenagers, a council spokeswoman said they were aware of some anti-social behaviour complaints around the issue of horses in the South Claughaun and Reidy Court area of Garryowen and these had been are resolved.
However, an angry Garryowen woman who contacted the Limerick Post claimed this statement was untrue.
“The quality of life in Garryowen is gone downhill. The Council saying they’ve dealt with complaints of horses is nonsense. It’s lies. They’ve totally ignored the community here. Never once have they bothered to come up here to address the problems.”
“Right now, I’m looking at a horse in a neighbour’s garden and I can see another one down the street in another garden. A horse walked up to meet me on the street earlier as I was out walking my dog,” she said.
Another Garryowen resident alleged that the Council had also been notified of youths drinking and dumping rubbish, urinating and taking drugs at an area known as ‘the steps’ and nothing is being done about it.
“If they believe the issue of horses roaming loose is resolved they have not communicated this to any member of Reidy Court. Also they have boarded up houses recently adding to the attraction of antisocial behaviour in the area,” he said.
A concerned family member of an elderly man being terrorised by teenagers in Garryowen also contacted the Limerick Post. The leader of the gang, he claimed, is the son of a major drug dealer in the estate.
“People have been run out of their homes by these thugs. People are sick and tired of this family.
“I wish my father will be safe some day when they are dealt with in the courts. Someone will end up dead because of this family,” he warned.
Responding to the latest complaints, the council spokeswoman said the local authority can only deal with issues relating to its tenants.
“Gangs are an issue for the Gardaí and those identified by the Gardaí to our unit who are council tenants or occupants will be dealt with accordingly,” she promised.
The Council also maintains that the issue with regard to horses in local authority properties has been resolved.
“Our antisocial behaviour unit spoke to the Gardaí only last week and went to Garryowen with the horse collection company from Cork and no horses were present. We also checked files for 2014 and 2015 with regard to the Garryowen area in general. In 2014, we had eight complaints relating to antisocial behaviour.
“One case was for the North Claughan Road and one for the South Claughan Road. The other complaints were in relation to other areas in Garryowen. There were none for Reidy Court.
“So far in 2015, there have six complaints relating to Council households and none are within the South/North Claughan, Reidy Court area. All are very minor issues and nothing to do with gangs or horses. People have to be aware that it is impossible for the Council to deal with gangs unless they are given the names and addresses of those involved,” she said.
Meanwhile, a Garda spokesman told the Limerick Post that Gardaí at Henry Street regularly patrol the area and all incidents of antisocial behaviour are dealt with appropriately.
“Local Garda management closely monitor patrols and other operational strategies in conjunction with crime trends and policing needs of the communities to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best service is provided to the public.
“Current policing plans in the area are designed to address issues of crime and public order offences. Community policing is a central feature of this and current policing strategies are predicated on the prevention of crime, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. This strategy will continue to be central to the delivery of a policing service in the area.
“Garda Management is satisfied that a full and comprehensive policing service is being delivered to the area and current structures meet the requirement to deliver an effective and efficient policing service.
“Gardai in Henry Street continue to work with individuals and groups to deliver on their commitment of working with communities to secure a safer future for everyone”, the spokesman concluded.
