This article is from page 1 of the 2012-07-31 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
CLARE’S top Garda has told residents of areas plagued by anti-social behaviour to come forward or “shut up” and “suffer the consequences”.
Chief Supt of the Clare Garda Division John Kerin said the gardaí can only act if people who witness antisocial and criminal acts come forward with information.
Residents groups in Ennis and other parts of the county have publicised issues that have arisen in their areas in recent weeks.
However, Chief Supt Kerin queried yesterday why people are not reporting matters directly to gardaí.
“People are ringing the radio but they won’t ring the guards,” he said.
He challenged communities and individuals to “step up to the mark” to help gardaí clamp down on anti-social behaviour.
“They either report it or shut up about it, do nothing and suffer the consequences,” he added.
Chief Supt Kerin said gardaí treat these matters seriously and all reports would be followed up.
He was speaking at yesterday’s meeting of the Clare Joint Police Committee Meeting (JPC) at the headquarters of Clare County Council in Ennis.
His comments come in the wake of a number of recently reported incidences of anti-social behaviour in Ennis.
At a recent meeting of Ennis Town Council, an anonymous letter detailing anti-social behaviour in an Ennis
estate was read out to stunned
members.
There has also been much
focus in recent weeks relat
ing to ongoing concerns in
Kilrush, connected with
moneylending and drugs
in the West Clare town.