Concerns raised over anti-social acts in Castlebar estate

A Castlebar councillor has raised concerns over a serious case of anti-social behaviour in a local housing estate, including reports that young children have been photographed and animals abused.

Speaking at the June meeting of the municipal district, Cllr Donna Sheridan said she had received reports of repeated anti-social behaviour in an estate in the Castlebar area, which she did not name. She said Gardaí were aware of the situation and outlined the nature of the complaints made.

“A person has taken photos of young children, has abused animals, and has been making life very difficult for the neighbours,” she said.

Calling for stronger action against perpetrators of anti-social behaviour, Cllr Sheridan said: “We need to look at our method of evicting people who are terrorising their neighbours in social housing estates, and make it so robust that we can remove them."

Cllr Sheridan said Mayo County Council should make clear it will not tolerate such behaviour and should do “whatever it takes” to have those responsible for anti-social acts “removed at speed” from council housing stock.

The Fine Gael representative asked that the matter be referred back to the council's Housing Strategic Policy Committee (SPC).

The SPC signed off on a new draft of a council anti-social behaviour policy at a special meeting in March.

The proposed policy, which has been under discussion between the SPC, the full council and the council's legal advisers for the past two years, would give Mayo County Council stronger powers to tackle anti-social behaviour in its housing stock.

The draft document sets out several ways the council would deal with anti-social behaviour.

These range from holding discussions with tenants, offering advice, and hosting mediation between the complainant and the offender to issuing a series of warning letters and, ultimately, terminating a tenancy.

At the most serious end of the scale, the policy would allow for the eviction of offenders and remove any obligation on the council to provide alternative accommodation in such cases.

Before the policy can come into effect, it must be formally approved by the full council.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.