'Large teen gang' behind 'distressing' Galway estate incident as gardai notified
A community alert message has been sent out to all residents in the area with footage being handed over to local gardai
A large teenage gang running amuck around one Galway area are said to be behind what has been described as a “distressing” housing estate incident.
A warning issued by Claregalway Community Notice notified all parents about the “concerning incident” involving the group in and around the village.
One house in particular had become an obsessive target for the gang who have “shown a complete disregard for the impact of their actions”.
The warning states: “A house in a local estate near the village has been repeatedly targeted by a group of teenagers who have been aggressively kicking and banging on the front door before running away when confronted. This behaviour has caused considerable distress to the residents involved.
“A group, believed to be the same teenagers, has also been spotted entering unfinished restricted areas of the estate, which is currently closed off by safety barriers. There have also been reports of minor damage to some properties. The group has additionally been seen gathering around the community centre and outside the local national school.”
The spokesperson for the community group has said that gardai have been notified and evidence has been handed over.
They continued: “We want to make it clear that these incidents are being taken seriously. Ring doorbell footage capturing the group involved has already been provided to An Garda Síochána, who have been made aware of the situation.
“Should this behaviour continue, further incidents and any additional footage will be reported to the Gardaí for further investigation.”
The alert also sent a message to parents “strongly encouraging them” to have a conversation with their teenagers about where they are going, who they are spending time with, and what activities they may be getting involved in.
They continued: “It is worth asking the question: Could your child be part of this group, or present when these incidents are taking place?
“What some teenagers may consider harmless fun or a prank can actually be extremely intimidating and upsetting for the people on the receiving end. Kicking doors, trespassing in restricted areas and damaging property are not harmless activities.”
Also sending a strong message to the people involved, they added: “If you are part of this group, please understand that your actions are being noticed, incidents are being documented, and footage has already been shared with the Gardai.”
The alert concluded by saying: “We all want Claregalway to remain a safe, welcoming and respectful community for everyone, young and old. Please respect people's homes, private property and private community facilities. We would appreciate parents taking this message seriously and helping to ensure these incidents do not continue. Thank you for your cooperation.”