Scourge of anti-social behaviour – ‘Better lines of communication needed with local gardai’

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Calls for a new strategy to tackle an increase in anti-social behaviour emerged at the September meeting of Dundalk Municipal District.

Cllr. Antoin Watters said a number of people had raised concerns with him about public drinking, at a green area facing Maxwell’s Row .

He asked the council if they could look at signs being installed to warn people that anti social behaviour like this won't be tolerated. He added that although it’s not certain if council tenants are involved in reported incidents, the local authority would have a role.

Cllr. Ciaran Fisher called for “better lines of communication” between Gardai and Louth County Council, following issues which arose in relation to a house which had come under the radar of An Garda Siochana.

He asked if there was a template for dealing with gardai, as he had ongoing contact with them, for many months, in relation to the house.

Cllr. Fisher said that in relation to anti-social behaviour “gardai will often have the documentary evidence needed” to back up reports. “But we need to get that documentary evidence,” he added.

Cllr. Sean Kelly said the number of anti social behaviour incidents had increased over the last year, and especially over the last few months.

He said that it was something which could be looked at by the Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) of the council.

"At the moment, it is very cumbersome the way we are dealing with it, especially if there is a tenant who is persistently a problem in an estate.”

He added: "It is not fair on neighbours, other social housing tenants, or private residents who are paying mortgages on their homes, that there are some causing trouble.”

Cllr. Kevin Meenan said he had been dealing with a number of issues in his own electoral area around anti-social behaviour, and agreed that the strategy to tackle it “needs to be updated.”

Paula Keenan, from Louth County Council’s Housing section, told members that the local authority are aware of a number of anti social behaviour cases.

She said it can be “a lengthy process” to carry out an investigation and build a “sufficient case that you can take to court.”

“But it is on our radar that we do need to update our anti-social behaviour strategy, which we will be looking at early next year,” said Ms. Keenan.