LABOUR Party councillor Joe Leddin urged the Council to request a meeting with An Garda Síochána to address ongoing harassment and drug dealing on Limerick City’s streets.
Cllr Leddin hopes the meeting would lead to Gardaí increasing street patrols and considering alternative security measures to address the problem of begging.
Speaking at this month’s Metropolitan District meeting, the City West representative raised “the issue of policing our city centre and the lack of Gardaí on our city streets. These concerns reflect the continuous calls I receive from businesses and the wider public and indeed from those living in the city.”
The Labour councillor said that in recent days “residents in Pery Square highlighted the anti-social behaviour taking place on the roof of the City Art Gallery and the intimidation taking place in the area”.
“We are losing the battle as Garda resources are being stretched to deal with other serious criminal issues.”
Cllr Leddin took the view that until there are sufficient numbers of Gardaí on foot patrol, the associated challenges of street begging and drug dealing will continue to worsen.
“For big concerts and sporting occasions, there are upwards of 70 to 100 Gardaí in attendance. While event promoters are paying for this service, the same level of policing is simply absent from our city centre,” he hit out.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael ministers for justice have visited the city in recent years to meet various representative groups yet we still have seen little or no progress.”
