Elderly residents living in fear of gangs of youths

PREDOMINANTLY elderly residents of an estate in Tralee are living in fear of rampaging gangs of youths.

Problems have persisted in Kerins Park for some time, but they came to a head over Hallowe’en, when an estimated 250 teenagers - none believed to be from the estate - besieged petrified residents.

The GRA’s national executive member in Kerry, Garda Dave McMahon, said two of his colleagues rushed to the scene but were forced to retreat when youths threw missiles and bangers at them.

A back-up patrol car was away in Fenit, responding to another call and it was some time before order was restored because, he said, appropriate garda numbers are not there to deal with such situations, which are becoming commonplace throughout the country.

Dolly Molloy, secretary of Kerins Park Residents’ Association, described the teenagers’ behaviour as “unbelievable carry-on”.

“There has to be more gardaí. We can’t even walk down our street anymore. We demand the right to feel safe in our own homes,” Ms Molloy said.

“We have tremendous sympathy for the gardaí because they can’t do anything faced with those numbers,” Ms Molloy said.

Her husband Paddy said 70% of the estate’s householders were elderly, adding that a large number are widowed and live alone.

“We don’t know who these young people are. They don’t come from here. They seem to come from far and wide and they wear those hoods so you can’t see them,” Mr Molloy said.

Association chairman Jimmy Coffey said: “People are frightened and worried. More gardaí are needed. There are yobs throwing bottles regularly at people driving through this estate in their cars.”