Crime alley in Cork is set to be shut to put off congregating gangs

An alleyway on the outskirts of the city is to be closed off to congregating gangs, allegedly involved in a number of assaults, drug dealing, and underage drinking.

Cork County Council officials agreed to the move after hearing from Councillor Ger Keohane that gardaí and residents want to close off the alleyway at Barnavarra Crescent, between Glanmire and Mayfield.

Locals seek to remove an adjoining footbridge which leads onto the North Ring Road.

Mr Keohane said the area was the subject of serious antisocial behaviour. In recent times, a car was found burnt-out there, windows in nearby houses had been smashed with rocks, stones were repeatedly thrown at passing cars, and it was “a mecca” for drug dealers and drinking parties.

The area straddles the city and county councils’ jurisdictions.

The Independent councillor said he was told by officials at a Cobh/Glanmire municipal district they had jurisdiction over the alleyway, but the bridge was within the city council area of control.

County Hall is to start the statutory process for closing the alleyway and will inform their counterparts in the city who may close off the footbridge.

Supported by councillors Kieran McCarthy (Ind) and Padraig O’Sullivan, Mr Keohane also asked officials to consider similar action with a laneway in Glanmire which was becoming a magnet for anti-social behaviour and illegal dumping.

The laneway runs south of Hazelwood Rd and the Aldi supermarket into Riverstown, close to the Sarsfield’s hurling club.

Council officials said they were trying to acquire the laneway, currently in private ownership, so that a proper road connection can be completed between the Aldi store and the road at Riverstown.

Mr Keohane said drinking parties were continuing in the laneway and it had become a dump for rubbish, including drinking cans, bottles “and even a washing machine and dead dogs”.

He said people living in houses close to the laneway were very upset.