This article is from page 26 of the 2008-03-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 26 JPG
THUGGERY, allied to intimidation, is preventing people going out walk- ing in Shannon at night-time, it has eLoeMO EBEDAee
The suggestions came during a de- bate last week among Shannon town councillors on anti-social behaviour.
A number of the local elected representatives expressed concerns about anti-social behaviour, with one councillor, Sean Hillery, stating that he no longer walks at night, given the intimidation around the town.
Councillor Patricia McCarthy (In- dependent) asked for an update on the implementation of the by-laws on
drinking in public places.
She was told that four people were summoned to-date for breaches of the by-law – three in 2006 and one last year.
“We are all aware about the amount of drinking done in open areas. It is visibly on the increase. Now, more than ever, these by-laws should be called into force,’ said Cllr McCa- ua OWs
“Gardai should use their powers. Certainly the evidence is there to show the by-laws are not used,” she AYO Ce(eren
Councillor Gerry Flynn (Independ- ent) said there were problems in the town and while some of it was due to
alcohol, a lot of it was as a result of “thuggish behaviour”.
“There is something happening in Shannon at the moment and it isn’t good. We need to arrest it, pardon the pun, before it goes any further,” lntemcy-B(e
Fianna Fail councillor Sean Hillery said he no longer walks at night, be- cause he is aware of the “intimidat- ing attitude of some groups”.
“There is a lack of respect for the law. I’ve given up walking at night and I loved walking. You hear so much of this. It’s the attitudes of these groups to the law,” the council- lor said.
Councillor Tony McMahon agreed
that “people are afraid to go walk- rhea
“In a town like Shannon, we shouldn’t have this attitude prevail- ing. If we are going to have thuggery to the extent that we cannot go out of our homes at night, we have reached a very Serious state,” he said.
The mayor of Shannon, councillor Sean McLoughlin (Fine Gael) said, “There is anti-social behaviour all over town. We need to work with the gardai.”
He called for a meeting between councillors and senior gardai in the town, to discuss anti-social behav- iour issues and other such matters in SJervepeceyee