IRISHTOWN’S ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
CLAIMS that anti-social behaviour in the Irishtown area of New Ross has quietened down were disputed by councillors.
Cllr Michael Sheehan broached the issue by asking for an update on what progress social workers and county council staff have made in making interventions with youths in the area on weekends.
‘ There are people going up there to try and resolve the issue, but it has been unsuccessful. There have been quite a few incidents of anti-social behaviour.’
Cathaoirleach Cllr Willie Fitzharris, who runs a business in the Irishtown area, said he is very aware of the complaints.
‘ The problem is not nearly as bad as it was. Obviously there are large numbers of youths who are congregating there but we just can’t clear the streets at night.’
Cllr Anthony Connick said the problems highlighted earlier this year are still going on. These include issues with vehicles, noise, banging on doors and general annoyance of residents, he said.
Cllr Fitzharris said he lives in a rural part of the district and he has to contend with the noise of youths doing doughnuts in their cars at 2 a.m.
Cllr Sheehan said: ‘People have been arrested. Their parents pick them up and bring them back to the Irishtown. Pint glasses and bottles are being smashed against doors and a bottle of urine was poured through letterboxes. Young children are afraid to stay in their own house at weekends because of all the noise and rattling and banging. It’s all recorded here or in the barracks.’
He said added to ongoing issues at Stephen’s Cemetery, which he described as ‘completely immoral’, he asked when the council are going to deal with the problem.
Cllr Fitzharris said he doesn’t condone the bad behaviour, but stressed that people are entitled to walk up and down the Irishtown.
Cllr Connick and Sheehan appealed for gardaí and the social workers to see what can be done as tenants are upset and people are trying to run businesses in the area.
Housing officer Martina Donoghue said all of the complaints have come from one council tenant. Cllr Sheehan said some of the people complaining are private residents.
‘Some don’t bother (complaining) because they know nothing can be done.’
Cllr Larry O’Brien asked how much money has been spent by the council in the Irishtown area in the past few years and was told by district director Eamonn Hore that around €1m has been spent between traffic calming and road and other works near the new schools.