Tubbercurry houses are in a ‘very bad condition’
THE enforcement section of Sligo County Council will carry out an inspection on two houses in Tubbercurry to ascertain their current condition.
Last week’s meeting of the Ballymote-Tubbercurry Municipal District heard significant concerns from councillors surrounding the state of two houses in the Connolly Park estate.
Director of Services Dorothy Clarke told Cllr Martin Connolly that the council did not own the properties and that they were privately owned.
The council had previously identified the owners, Ms Clarke said.
Cllr Connolly expressed serious concern at the condition of the two houses, numbers 15 and 18, which he said were in ‘very bad condition’ and were attracting a lot of dumping, with rodents now evident in
the area.
He said this was particularly problematic for other residents living close to the houses in question, and was unfair on them to have to contend with these issues.
Cllr Paul Taylor said some residents were ‘out of their mind’ with worry about the condition of the houses and the adverse impact their presence was having on the estate. He said if the council could gain access to number 15 it would be ‘very important’ to solving the problem.
Cllr Dara Mulvey also supported the motion, saying it was the person living in between the houses that was having the difficulties.
Cllr Michael Clarke queried whether the Compulsory Purchase Order could be used by the council to acquire the houses, do whatever repair works were needed and add them to the council’s housing stock.
Director of Services Dorothy Clarke said that possibility was discussed with the enforcement section, but it could be a more complex issue with the houses in question.
A 39-year-old crutch-bearing man who was intoxicated on the street and found to be in possession of a knife, was in fear for his life, Sligo District Court heard on Thursday.
Rory Boyd, of John Fallon Drive, Cranmore, was before the court charged with threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, intoxication, possession of a knife and a crutch at Stephen Street on June 1st 2020.
There was a plea to the intoxication and possession of a knife charges, while the two others were withdrawn and struck out by Judge Kevin Kilrane.
Sergeant Derek Butler told the court that at 3.50am gardaí were on Stephen Street where they observed Rory Boyd walking on the left hand side of the street holding a crutch. It was evident that he was intoxicated and agitated.
When he was asked to drop the crutch, which he did, gardaí observed he had a knife in his right hand, a sharp chopping knife. He dropped the knife, was arrested and brought to Ballymote Garda Station.
Defending solicitor Mr Tom MacSharry said was there was full co-operation on his client’s part and there was no resistance and no bad language.
He had a legitimate threat on his life, Mr MacSharry said, adding that it was indicated to him there were people looking to hurt him. Boyd did ring a taxi but it wasn’t able to reach him and gardaí to their credit intervened.
Mr MacSharry put it to his client did he realise the serious matter which knife crime was and he replied he did. Mr MacSharry said he was the father of three dependent children, with one on the way.
The defendant told the judge he was at his friend’s house watching a UFC fight when a car drove by and someone said ‘we’re going to get you, Boyd’.
He took the knife from the apartment but had no intention to use it. The people he was with told him to leave as they didn’t want trouble.
He rang a friend to organise a taxi and the reason he had the crutch was because of a fractured ankle.
He knew there was a crowd in the car and Judge Kilrane asked who were they and he said he didn’t know them but it was a black car with Northern Ireland plates.
He told the judge he heard them shouting when he was walking out the door of the apartment, where there was a few people, some of whom he didn’t know. He didn’t go back in as they said not to bring trouble there.
The judge asked him did he not think of ringing the gardaí and he replied his friend rang for a taxi. He had 57 previous convictions, Sergeant Butler outlined.
Mr MacSharry said his client had a very serious record, adding he is a very good father and said he was begging not to send him to prison.
Judge Kilrane said knife crime must be stamped out and he didn’t accept the defendant’s story.
He was out at 4am carrying a knife, didn’t know who made the threat and could have called gardaí.
He said anyone carrying a knife intends using it. “Knives are out,” Judge Kilrane said. He convicted and sentenced him to five months in prison.