Gardaí called to school playgrounds over feuds

Feuding between families is so bad in one city community that gardaí have to be called to protect children in the school playground.

Teachers now fear that the school will be closed because it has become a focal point for tensions.

The situation was highlighted by Brendan Kenny, former chief executive of Limerick Regeneration and now assistant Dublin City manager, who said he feared for community support programmes in both cities.

“I would be worried that with the cuts and reductions in services, that things may go backwards so we need to keep concentration,” said Mr Kenny. “There is a certain complex in Dublin at the moment where the teachers are very concerned that the school is going to close because there is a serious feud between local families. Gardaí are often called to protect children in the playground. It is very worrying.”

Parts of Limerick could also regress, he warned: “In Limerick the situation was appalling, worse than anything I dealt with in Dublin.”

Mr Kenny has a long involvement in regeneration projects and areas covered by the Rapid and drug task force initiatives. However, he said: “We have not been able to convert any of these disadvantaged areas into advantaged areas.”