Mayo County Council accused of not dealing with anti-social behaviour

COUNCIL management in Mayo has been accused of not dealing with anti-social behaviour.

Elected members want a strategy that comes down on the side of decent people living in estates.

A special meeting to deal with the issue is planned in the new year, Councillor Michael Kilcoyne told a housing committee meeting.

However, he said, Mayo County Council is not really dealing with the question of anti-social behaviour.

Rather than going out and dealing with it, management was trying to find ways to prevent councillors from carrying out their duties.

It was, he pointed out, a function of the elected members to put in place an anti-social behaviour policy, but he was disgusted with attempts being made to prevent them doing their jobs.

They had been talking about this for 12 months. He wished it was being given half the priority other issues which are less important are being given.

Councillor Kilcoyne said he has seen issues continuing in estates, with thugs terrorising their neighbours, day and night, with drinking, shouting and roaring.

"We as a local authority have failed to deal with it, the management. The members have been trying to get something done."

He added: "I call on management to give this matter the priority it deserves."

It was heartbreaking what is happening and it was 'totally frustrating' as an elected member to try and get something done.

Councillor Neil Cruise said they needed a new, fresh approach. They were talking about people dealing drugs or constantly acting the maggot and it was time to come up with a strategy that comes down on the side of the decent people living in estates.

The comments regarding management were totally rejected by director of services Tom Gilligan who said they give the issue the utmost priority.

Anti-social behaviour is a 'blight' on communities and there has been significant movement in the last while and the council have brought a case before the courts.

People are entitled to due process. The policy is strong and fair and they were looking to bring in changes.

"To say we are doing nothing and not taking it seriously is outrageous," he told the meeting.