A COUNCIL call to block access from the Castletroy Urban Greenway to alleviate anti-social behaviour at apartment blocks in Newtown Meadows has been deemed “alarmist”.
Fianna Fáil councillor Joe Pond called on the local authority to engage with Cluid Housing to examine what measures can be taken to protect residents who, he claims, are having huge issues in the two Castletroy apartment buildings.
According to Cllr Pond, the Greenway, which provides a shortcut to shops and other businesses, is also being used by those looking to commit crime and harass people.
The anti-social behaviour, he told Council members, started to escalate after fencing was removed with residents only left with shrubs to offer them privacy and security.
“One lady in broad daylight witnessed an attempt to steal a motorbike belonging to another resident parked out in front of the building,” Cllr Pond said.
“Two males wearing balaclavas came through the gap on a dirt bike. One got off and proceeded to sit on the bike and tried to steal it. Seeing this, the lady went to her balcony and told the person to get off the bike. He told this lady to mind her own business and pointed his two fingers at her.”
The Fianna Fáil councillor said the local resident had another experience “sitting at her PC studying, (when) a leg came through her open window”.
“A boy had his leg through the window. She panicked and grabbed his leg to stop him from coming in and pushed him back. This lady lives on her own and found this very frightening,” he told Council members.
“On another occasion, this lady heard the front door being kicked hard during the night. She woke as she was afraid. As a result she got a video doorbell so she can see who is approaching the front door. No one should have to go to these lengths to feel safe in their own home.”
Seconding Cllr Pond’s motion to block access to the Greenway near the apartment buildings, Cllr Catherine Slattery (FF) deemed the anti-social behaviour in the area as disgraceful and horrific.
However, Green Party councillor Seán Hartigan cautioned Council members about being alarmist.
“I have sympathy for the people who are suffering from anti-social behaviour. Now most of the things outlined by Joe were involving nine to 13-year-olds and it involved kids knocking on doors and running away and that sort of thing. We’re not dealing with the South Bronx,” Cllr Hartigan interjected.
“The reality is if you walk along that Greenway, it’s a very nice, peaceful park with kids playing on it. I spoke to the superintendent prior to the local elections about this and asked him how many incidents of criminality had been reported on the Greenway. And his answer was, ‘there was one’. So we’re kind of exaggerating what’s happening here,” he concluded.
