Photograph: Fiona McNamara
“INTIMIDATING BEHAVIOUR” witnessed in thew town of Ennis is not unique to the county town, the county’s Chief Superintendent has said.
Correspondence was issued to the Clare Joint Policing Committee (JPC) by the Retailers of Ennis group regarding anti-social activities, “intimidating behaviour” and “camping around” the town.
“As rate payers we are not supported with this ongoing issue,” the correspondence stated. John O’Connor of the group appeared on Clare FM’s Morning Focus in recent weeks where he shared the story of an elderly couple who felt so uncomfortable eating in the town that they were forced to make a quick getaway where a group of youths then tried to get into the back of their vehicle on O’Connell St, he claimed.
Meetings administrator Karen Fennessy advised that the Ennis Municipal District would need to arrange their own meeting with An Garda Síochána “as it’s not a matter for the Joint Policing Committee”.
Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) believed more resources were needed to quell anti-social behaviour in the town. “Resources are going to be a challenge, will there be enough for the county town, not being dismissive of the rest of the county but that is where the most of the population is”.
Chief Superintendent, Colm O’Sullivan told the meeting, “this isn’t something just happening in Ennis, it is happening throughout the country, from our perspective we engage with those people. If there are issues where they are intimidating people then the business community should be coming to the Gardaí on the street or coming to talk to us in the Garda Station. It’s a situation which is repeated across the country”.
