'We need foot patrols' - Calls for greater garda presence amid Kilkenny anti-social behaviour
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As featured in the Kilkenny People newspaper
Concerns over rising anti-social behaviour, alleged open drug dealing and a lack of visible garda presence in Kilkenny city have been raised by local representatives and members of the business community. From incidents on the High Street to concerns around St Canice’s Cathedral and St Kieran’s Cemetery, those working and living in the city say the problem is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
“There seems to be some blast of testosterone that comes into people when they have a bike (a cyclist) in front of them. They seem to feel obliged that they have to pass that bike out immediately. We need to deal with that kind of idiotic behaviour.”
Meanwhile, Independent Cllr Eugene McGuinness is regularly witnessing Kilkenny’s drug habit firsthand.
“I see anti-social behaviour on High Street,” Cllr McGuinness commented. “This city is being slowly and slowly destroyed by anti-social behaviour.
“I think the amount of drugs that are being sold in this town, people would be frightened at the numbers that are involved here. It's getting worse and worse, and I see it openly being sold and being used,” Cllr McGuinness continued.
“I wouldn't be afraid to walk the lanes, but you'd be taking your life into your own hands. Up in St Kieran’s Cemetery, it's an absolute hot spot for selling drugs. You will see people up there every day wandering around the cemetery. People have contacted me and are afraid to go into the cemetery.”
According to the city-based representative, gardaí on the ground are essential to curb the alleged ill-behaviour caused by drugs.
“My message to the gardaí, and always has been, your beat is on the street. It's as simple and straightforward as that,” adding, “we need (more) foot patrols in the city.”
Similar frustrations have also been expressed by some of the city’s business community.
Local auctioneer Fran Grincell, who has worked with numerous charities and voluntary groups over the years, said some forms of anti-social behaviour are potentially damaging to the local tourism sector.
“The carry-on around the steps and the seating adjacent at St Canice’s Cathedral is a complete contradiction to the message we are trying to get out about Kilkenny City,” Mr Grincell said.
“Sometimes tourists run a gauntlet to visit the second busiest tourist spot in Kilkenny at St Canice’s Cathedral. Traders have also been known to experience harassment,” he argued, a sentiment shared by a contributor to his weekly radio programme.
"There’s a huge amount of it (anti-social behaviour) on the street, and unfortunately it's getting worse,” Martin Costello of Murphy’s Jewellers told Community Radio Kilkenny City last week.
“Unfortunately it seems that the powers that be aren’t particularly bothered. While they talk about leasing, they don’t see all this type of stuff going on on the High Street or the whole town as an issue,” he said.