'There to be enjoyed, not destroyed', councillor speaks out against anti-social behaviour in Waterford estates
Remnants of a wheelie bin set alight in a Waterford City estate. Photo: Cllr Frank Quinlan
There have been a number of incidents of disruptive anti-social behaviour and arson fires in estates across Waterford city in recent weeks.
Many of these incidents involve wheelie bins and mounds of rubbish being set alight on greens and in the centre of housing estates around the city, including Lismore Park, Avondale and Comeragh Greens, according to local Fine Gael Councillor Frank Quinlan.
Cllr Quinlan spoke out about the incidents on his social media, sharing photos of the burnt remains of wheelie bins melted onto greens in said estates, as well as at the most recent sitting of the Metropolitan district council.
"It happens probably every year at this time of year, coming into Halloween season," Cllr Quinlan told this newspaper.
Groups of six to 10 teenagers come into estates that aren't their own, he said, to take wheelie bins residents have left out for collection with the sole purpose of burning them and defacing the greens.
"So instead of kids enjoying the greens, they're getting destroyed because of antisocial behaviour from these mindless vandals," he said, "I'm after speaking to the Gardaí about the situation, trying to get more of a presence in the area, especially in the evening and at night, but it's still not stopping."
Cllr Quinlan added that it's not only the wheelie bins being set alight, but fireworks being lit up and pointed at cars and houses too.
"Residents are living in fear that if they say anything or do anything, they could be targeted," he added.
The greens, which are well-kept by resident association groups during the summer months, are being destroyed by teenagers "that have nothing else to do, only cause trouble in people's neighbourhoods," Cllr Quinlan explained.
"It's very, very unfair for the residents who keep their greens in such good condition throughout the summer to see them black and to see these bins full of rubbish being burned out and left there for the residents and the council to try and clean up."
Cllr Quinlan detailed a number of measures residents can take to prevent this sort of behaviour from affecting them, including putting bins out as close as possible to collection times rather than the night before, keeping bins in back gardens, sheds, garages or off the street and placing a lock on the bin lids as a deterrent.
"They've no fear anymore these young kids, and they know that they're untouchable, that they can't get into too much trouble," Cllr Quinlan finished.
"There is more presence in the area of Gardaí, but they can't be everywhere at once, you know, and they're limited to the resources they have."
In a statement to this newspaper on the issue, Waterford City and County Council said, "Waterford Local Community Safety Partnership (WLCSP) is aware of a number of anti-social behaviour issues across the county which were discussed at recent meetings with partner agencies.
"In addition to a number of ongoing local initiatives with collaborative partners, including Waterford City and County Council, WLCSP is working on local issues through multi-agency working groups (and a) public community safety awareness campaign regarding ASB. Members of the public are advised to call the Gardaí on 999 or 112 to report criminal/anti-social behaviour."
This behaviour isn't only seen in Waterford City, with Sinn Féin TD for Waterford, Conor McGuinness, calling for increased Garda resources in Dungarvan following a serious escalation in anti-social behaviour in the town centre, including the reckless use of fireworks, over the weekend.
“The scenes reported in Dungarvan last night, including fireworks being fired as projectiles in the town centre and exploding at head height, are extremely concerning.
"This is not an isolated incident and there is growing concern among residents about anti-social behaviour in the town," he said.
“The reckless use of fireworks, particularly when they are being fired towards people and property, cannot be allowed to become normalised. There must be no repeat of what happened last night (Sunday, September 21).”
