This article is from page 4 of the 2014-04-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
RESIDENTS of an Ennis housing estate plagued by almost two years of anti-social behaviour, threats and verbal abuse expressed their frustration at yesterday’s meeting of the Ennis Joint Policing Committee (JPC).
Four residents attended the meeting and outlined the issues affecting the beleaguered estate. They include the running of horses on one of the town’s busiest roads, anti-social behaviour and harassment.
One woman told of how two families have left the estate while many others have had to install security features such as chains, security cameras and alarms on their properties. “We feel we have a right to feel safe in our home. We shouldn’t be intimidated by either adults or children. Our children should be able to feel safe to go out and play,” she said. “It’s a terrible way to live. We’re here from an estate with a hundred houses, asking for help.”
The meeting heard the problems started after a man with a large family moved into the area two years ago.
One woman told of how children under the age of 12 are “running riot and destroying property”.
She said, “The horses are being chased up the road. They are just frightening the horses, pushing them into the estate. The horses are running wild. I feel sorry for the horses. The horses are bolting out onto the road and car could be coming down the road. It’s just frightening.”
Supt Derek Smart of Ennis Garda Station said he was aware of the problems in the area. Gardaí have conducted regular patrols of the estate. Supt Smart said the issue regarding the children has been raised with the Health Services Executive (HSE).
He said, “It is something that is very high on our agenda. In Ennis town in all the estates, we are now making an attempt to assign particular guards to estates.”
Concern was also expressed for the welfare of the children.
One resident said, “I’ve made calls to the HSE regarding young children under the age of 10, there all day and all night on their own. They’re rearing themselves. That’s their way, that’s fine but it’s not right to have an eight or nine year old looking after an infant. Who is feeding them? Who is cleaning the child? It’s just sad, very, very sad. The HSE has far as I’m concerned haven’t stepped in as they should.”
JPC Chairman, Cllr Paul O’Shea, said the HSE should be invited to attend a meeting to discuss the issue.
Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said she could not understand how the children have not been taken into care.