Bike Patrols Suggested to Curb Anti-Social Behaviour in Carrigaline Park
- Online Journalist
- 47 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Writes Leo McMahon
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Increased Garda presence, including bicycle patrols, in response to ongoing incidents of anti-social behaviour in Carrigaline Community Park was urged by Cllr Una McCarthy (FG) and fully supported at the monthly meeting of the county council’s Carrigaline Municipal District (MD).
Requesting that the divisional Garda chief superintendent be written to, she said that a number of people had reached out to her reporting incidents such as eggs being thrown at cars which was obviously very dangerous and could cause accidents. Bike patrols, especially at night and during school holidays plus additional resources for the local Garda station were needed, Cllr McCarthy added.
Seconding her motion on the subject, Cllr Jack White (FG) said: ‘I got a heart-breaking call from a dad of three young boys who all use the skatepark all the time. The net effect of all this anti-social behaviour is driving people like them away from using it and the playground in the park.’
There were concerns for people’s safety about what was a lovely asset and amenity. The ongoing issue of bins being burned out was horrendous.
Cllr White continued that it again raised the question of the need for closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras and suggested the MD ascertain the position on this for Carrigaline from the Gardai because it would be a deterrent if the issue of data management could be resolved. In addition to increased Garda visibility, he also suggested under cover patrols with the element of surprise to deal with offenders who didn’t seem to be afraid of anything.
Cllr Patrick Donovan (FF), in support, said he was in the Owenabue car park at 5pm recently and it didn’t feel safe which was sad. In what should be an area where people could sit down with their kids or have a cup of coffee, it was choc-o-bloc with teenagers in black hoodies.
There was a long standing call for more Garda resources in Carrigaline MD. Bike patrols would help but so would under cover Gardai because some had no fear for the law and there was need to come down heavy on anti-social behaviour. He acknowledged the excellent work of Community GardaÃ
.
Cllr Eoghan Fahy (SF) said the MD had to keep banging the drum on the case for increased Garda personnel and resources and retaining same. It was a sad day when incidents were happening in open public space as opposed to a cul-de-sac or lane. However, he felt the problem ran deeper and would have to solved at a national level.
An cathaoirleach Cllr Ben Dalton-O’Sullivan (Ind) said it was a brilliant motion. For the most part, Carrigaline was a safe, positive, vibrant town but unfortunately the actions of a few ruined it for the many. He agreed that Co Cork’s largest town, which was continuing to grow, got extra Garda resources and its station was open full time.
Senior executive officer (SEO) Maurice Murphy said it was important to write to the Gardai. The issue of CCTV was very complex and very difficult to get in place. It was nigh impossible to get sign-off from the data commissioner on such schemes due to the regulation behind it and the question of who managed it. On that basis, he felt increased presence on the ground was the best solution for now.
Cllr Donovan said the council needed to take a tougher stance over the repeated burning of bins because they were talking about taxpayers’ money and impacting on the local authority’s budget. The majority of park users were suffering because of a small minority who felt they could do what they want.
Cllr White, in agreeing with the SEO about CCTV, said it was sad for society that data privacy was, it seemed, valued more than people’s protection and safety. In agreement, offenders should be pursued for the costs also of anti-social behaviour and as polluters. Cllr McCarthy’s motion was adopted.
In a report, MD officer Denise Kidney said the Garda chief superintendent would be written to with the request.