FEUD MAIN POINT FOR FF BOSS ON TOWN WALKABOUT
FIANNA Fail leader Micheal Martin was left in no doubt about the issues facing the town of Drogheda after a brisk walk around Mary Street and Marian Park.
With local candidate James Byrne and a team - as well as a TV crew in tow - he breezed from house to house, in the main, getting a good response.
But almost every discussion began with the violence that has left the name of the town badly tarnished.
One woman spoke of the fear that her children had at night and the sound of the helicopter flying low over the town.
‘ That should not be the norm for any town,’ she added.
She said it wasn’t unusual to hear the helicopter and the children wake up during the night with the noise.
She had sympathy for the gardai, trying to do their job under difficult circumstances.
‘Crime is causing a lot of concern and unease and there’s a real sense of insecurity,’ Deputy Martim stated. ‘It needs a stronger response from the government and we need more gardai on the ground.’
He said all agencies must come together.
‘ The drugs gangs can’t get control and there is a sense that they are out of control. The level of inhumanity and depravity is sickening people,’ he stated.
During his door to door calls, he met Gay Martin, who said she had spent 11 hours in outpatients with her husband the previous day.
‘We met her and health and housing were issues that came up a lot,’ he continued.
The walkabout saw James Byrne proving very popular, greeted by past students, teachers and many who recognised the efforts of his father, Tommy, on their behalf for so many years.
One man, who is a FF supporter, said he had one regret in relation to the party leader and his relationship with Leo Varadkar, ‘it’s a pity you didn’t put the boot into the man!’ he quipped.