Councillors demand tougher approach to tackle ‘no-go areas’ in Cork City

MacCurtain St, which underwent a multi-million euro revamp last year, and Mary Elmes Bridge are some of the worst affected by the antisocial behaviour, according to councillors

Fine Gael councillor Joe Kavanagh said MacCurtain Sreet traders have complained that their customers are being hassled on the street, and that people are urinating in doorways, even during the day. Picture: Larry Cummins

Parts of Cork City have become no-go areas, several city councillors have said as they backed calls for more gardaí and jail terms of up to one year for repeat offenders engaged in aggressive begging, or in threatening, abusive, insulting or drunken behaviour in a public place.

MacCurtain Street, which underwent a multi-million euro revamp last year, and Mary Elmes Bridge are some of the worst affected by the antisocial behaviour, they said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Terry Shannon said he recently saw pedestrians avoid the bridge because up to a dozen people were drinking or passed out on it.

“The bridge has become a no-go area. There were 12, what I could only describe as ‘bums’, lining across both sides of the bridge roaring at people,” he said.

“I saw people at both ends of the bridge looking at this and saying ‘no, I’ll go around’.

"I went across and there were fellas lying unconscious on the benches, people with their drawers half down, drugs and the whole lot. It was appalling and not a guard in sight, nobody to move these people on. They had the whole bridge taken over."

Fine Gael councillor Joe Kavanagh said MacCurtain Sreet traders have complained that their customers are being hassled on the street and that people are urinating in doorways, even during the day. “We have created a beautiful area and it’s gone from strength to strength but it’s also attracted a certain element that is creating an intimidating environment,” he said.

Their comments came during an hour-long debate on a motion tabled by Fine Gael councillor Shane O’Callaghan which urged the council to write to Justice Minister Helen McEntee calling on her to introduce measures to tackle the anti-social behaviour problems.

It comes after a spate of serious incidents in the city, including a stabbing, which is before the courts, and a major public order incident which led to 16 people appearing before the courts.

Mr O’Callaghan said there is an underlying atmosphere of uneasiness, aggression, and animosity in the city centre, and a strong deterrent, especially for repeat offenders, is needed. His motion also called for:

• An increase in the maximum sentence for threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place from three months imprisonment to one year;
• An increase in the maximum sentence for intoxication in a public place from a €500 fine to one year in jail;
• An increase in the maximum sentence for aggressive begging from one month imprisonment to one year.

The introduction of mandatory minimum sentencing for various public order offences where there has been repeat offending within a specified period.

Social Democrats councillor Padraig Rice said the city cannot police itself out of the problem, saying: “We need a health-based approach, not a policing approach.”