by Charlie Mullowney
According to Cllr. Crowe, the building has been used as a hangout for teenagers and has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour.
“At weekends and during school holidays, throngs of teenagers from both the Limerick and Clare sides of the river and from further away congregate at the house. They have forced an access way into it and, according to locals I have spoken to, it is being used for drinking, smoking, drug taking and everything else!
“On one weekend, the building was set on fire. There have also been a few ugly fist fights on a green area across from the toll house. I witnessed one of these some months ago when I was jogging in the area”, he said.
“People have stopped walking and jogging past the toll house. They are fearful and feel intimidated. It is a shame because it is beside the much loved scenic ‘Red Path’ riverside walk.
The toll house is in a quiet and respectable residential area. With the co-operation of local authorities and GardaÃ, peace and harmony can be restored”, he claimed.
