kathy@limerickpost.ie
LIMERICK does not have adequate garda numbers to deal with crime and anti-social behaviour in certain areas of the city, according to members of Limerick City and County Council.
Limerick City West councillor Joe Leddin told this monthās Metropolitan District meeting: āThere are huge issues in relation to crime and anti-social behaviour in Weston. Only last week another house was burnt out. There are serious issues in terms of anti-social behaviour and intimidation going on in that community on a daily basis.ā
City East councillor Kieran OāHanlon noted that ācrime and vandalism is an issue stillā and claimed that he recently spent ten minutes trying to call Henry Street garda station to report a stolen car.
He added: āWe donāt have a sufficient number of gardaĆ in Limerick to deal with the individuals who need to be dealt withā.
His Fianna FĆ”il colleague and City West councillor James Collins said; āItās not for politicians or officials to implement law and orderā and suggested writing to the Minister for Justice appealing for additional gardaĆ to be deployed in Limerick.
Fellow City West councillor SeĆ”n Lynch criticised Cllr Leddin for āknocking Westonā and said: āYou have anti-social behaviour in any housing estateā.
Cllr Leddin replied: āI never knocked any community. Iām dealing with the real issues on the ground ā I suggest you take a walk around there.ā
In relation to abandoned or derelict houses, which are seen as magnets for anti-social behaviour, Cllr Leddin said: āThere are a lot of houses boarded up and a lot of those are in private ownership. Literally nothing is being done about it. Unfortunately the people living beside them have to endure all these issues.
āWe can spend millions on Regeneration or the housing budget, yet you can have a number of houses privately owned where the owner lives in Honolulu and the house is boarded up. We need to engage with them.ā