Questions arise over garda approach to anti-social behaviour
THE PROCESS of penalising those found to be participating in anti-social behaviour was of particular concern to JPC member Declan McPartlin.
Mr McPartlin was responding to a correspondence saying that there was no specific offence of anti-social behaviour. He lamented that garda process which was to impose a garda order and, if that failed, to bring the person to court. He felt that in certain cases the court should be the first stop.
Chief Supt Patrick McMenamin said that the Public Order Act covered anti-social behaviour, adding that there were other ways of dealing with the issue including juvenile structures. The garda order, he said, was only one side of the discussion. He said that, very often, the warning of court was enough.
Cllr Davy Hynes agreed that anti-social behaviour was an ongoing issue and one that often went unpunished for years.
Cllr George Lawlor added that the council’s housing section was often the last to know about such issues. He asked for a stronger alliance between gardai and the housing section.