Concerns raised over anti-social behaviour in Mayo town

A number of instances of anti-social behaviour around Ballina town were outlined at a meeting of municipal district councillors last week.

Cllr Annie May Reape raised the issue at the monthly meeting when she said that gardaí are being called nightly to local estates where very young people are smashing windows and damaging property, including car wing mirrors. She instanced two elderly people in their 80s who were being frightened on a regular basis, adding that fireworks are already being thrown, even though it is well before Halloween.

“People are frightened. I know community gardaí are doing their best but I ask that we get CCTV put in around the town to deal with the whole issue.” 

Cllr John O’Hara said cars are being hit by stones at Tom Clarke Place in the middle of the day.

“We do need CCTV put in because a lot of the people there are elderly. This has to be hit on the head or it will just continue.” 

Head of the municipal district Declan Turnbull said the council also received complaints of anti-social behaviour, adding: “There are two aspects to this. One is in relation to gardaí responding, as we have no powers of our own, and the other relates to CCTV and we can look into that.”