Cork forum to tackle anti-social behaviour and speeding crimewaves

Councillors representing the Carrigaline area are demanding undercover gardaí and gardaí on bicycles start patrolling it regularly

A new forum is to be set up in Co Cork before the end of the year to focus on addressing rural crimewaves, including anti-social behaviour and speeding.

It will include community representatives, gardaí, council officials, and councillors, and one hot topic ahead of its foundation is an urgent call to deal with anti-social behaviour running out of control in the county’s largest town.

Councillors representing the Carrigaline area are so concerned about anti-social behaviour in the town park/skateboard facility, they’re demanding undercover gardaí and gardaí on bicycles start patrolling it regularly.

Fine Gael councillor Jack White described it as “heartbreaking” to get a call from a father of three young boys telling him he considered it no longer safe for them to go into the skatepark because of anti-social behaviour.

Fianna Fáil councillor Patrick Donovan said he was recently in the park at 5pm, “and wouldn’t say it is the safest place — which is very sad".

He said councillors have been looking for extra garda resources in the town for a long time, and something has to be done “because some of these kids have no fear of the law.” 

Unruly youth

They made their comments after Fine Gael councillor Una McCarthy put down a motion to write to senior gardaí, requesting an increased garda presence in response to ongoing incidents of anti-social behaviour in the park.

She said unruly youth congregating in there were also throwing eggs and other projectiles at passing cars, which is potentially very dangerous. Mr White said refuse bins in the park are being regularly set alight.

“It’s sad this is happening in such a public space,” added Sinn Féin councillor Eoghan Fahy, who said anti-social behaviour by youths is getting out of control in other areas of the municipality.

Meanwhile, news that the Cork forum is to be set up was delivered to councillors representing the Fermoy municipal district by their officials.

It was announced after Independent councillor William O’Leary asked for quarterly meetings to be set up between local gardaí and the municipal district to tackle public safety, speeding, and other issues arising on regional and local roads.

Mr O’Leary said the council used to have such meetings prior to the covid pandemic, adding that it’s essential that they are restarted.

He was informed that the county council is to establish a community safety partnership, hopefully before the end of this year. It will have senior gardaí, community, representatives, and council staff and councillors on it.

Mr O’Leary said that, while there may be anti-social issues in his region, the main cause for concern is speeding.

“As local elected representatives, we're on the ground and we hear the issues. There are serious speeding issues on some of our roads,” he said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Deirdre O’Brien said the council is continuously putting in traffic calming measures, which cost a fortune, to reduce speeding, but the only proper way to combat it is through garda enforcement.

“If people get fines, it will hit them in the pocket and slow them down,” she added.

“We need a joined up approach,” Fine Gael councillor Kay Dawson said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Frank O’Flynn asked whether there would be just one countywide body set up or if there would also be forums for the eight municipal district councils as well.

Officials said that has yet to be decided. Mr O’Flynn urged councillors to tell senior council management that municipal forums need to be established.