Afraid to play: kids kept indoors due to antisocial behaviour
Dozens of social housing tenants are creating havoc in a private estate in Knocknacarra after being moved in overnight, city councillors have claimed.
Children have been threatened, a play area vandalised and antisocial behaviour has become a regular occurrence at Léas na Mara on the Upper Ballymoneen Road.
Existing residents are furious that some of the new tenants have “no respect for anyone or anything”, despite assurances they would be Garda-vetted.
Despite originally being developed as a ‘private estate’ – where owners paid up to €300,000 for their home – it now has 37% social housing, after a deal was done with a housing agency.
Local area councillor Donal Lyons said the problems in the estate only began after the new tenants moved in.
His Council colleague Pearce Flannery said the issue has become a “threat to the civil rights” of people who paid for their homes . . . and are now afraid to let their children out to play.
“Almost overnight this antisocial behaviour has developed in what was a nice, quiet estate – there’s a complete lack of respect for the neighbours and the neighbourhood and it can only grow from here,” said Cllr Flannery.
A spokesperson for Túath, the housing association which acquired 40 homes in the estate, said it is investigating complaints and “appropriate action will be taken”.
The management company of the estate – made up of homeowners – was only informed that the empty units were being taken over 10 days before the tenants moved in.
For more on this story, including residents' views, see this week's Galway City Tribune