Security remains at two Tipperary public buildings following anti-social incidents
Numerous incidents of anti-social behaviour at two busy public buildings in Clonmel have resulted in the continued presence of security staff, a recent meeting of the Clonmel Borough District heard.
At the district meeting, independent councillor Richie Molloy raised the issue of security at the Clonmel Library and the motor tax office in the town, and said that members of the public had asked him why it was needed.
"There is a lot of people asking why there is security still at the library and the motor tax office. It’s probably just a good thing to explain to the public again why there is security at the library,” he said.
"I imagine the cost must be quite considerable at this stage,” he added.
Agreeing with Cllr Molloy, Fine Gael councillor John Fitzgerald said that private businesses also had to deal with what he described as “unsavoury characters” and questioned where the line should be drawn.
"Every bank and pub has to deal with unsavoury characters, but where do you stop the budget?” he asked.
In response, councillors were told by Jonathan Cooney, district director of the Clonmel Borough District, that ongoing issues of anti-social behaviour warranted the placement of security at the public buildings in the town.
“That is really a matter for the finance director, and community enterprise with libraries, but I do know in both cases it was as a result of incidents. Here in the Town Hall it was an incident that happened on one occasion, and nearly on a second occassion,” he said.
"But I also know in the library was a recurrence of numerous incidents that happened in the library, and as an organisation, we do have a duty of care to our employees and to the public generally,” Mr Cooney added.
Cllr Fitzgerald asked the district manager if other staff could be redeployed to look after security, rather than the council having to incur the cost of private security.
Mr Cooney explained that the council has a duty to look after its staff, and that it was safer to employ dedicated security personnel rather than putting their staff in danger.
The gardaí have also been made aware of the incidents at both properties, Mr Cooney added.
Members were told that changes would become visible in the coming weeks following the review of both properties.