People are ‘living in fear’ in Limerick town over anti-social behaviour

“WE'RE LIVING in fear” a local man has said due to concerns over anti-social behaviour in Askeaton.

Sean Lynch, from the town, says the rise of anti-social behaviour over the last number of years has become “quite concerning”.

According to Mr Lynch, vandalism is rife in the town and damage in particular to personal property is “going on all the time”.

“The people of the town have to put up with it. It feels like it’s going to keep going on forever.”

“We are living in fear in this town. The gardai should be doing more to stop it,” he told the Limerick Leader.

Mr Lynch mentioned how some people are starting to put “cages over their windows” to stop the “youngsters around the town with their hurleys” damaging their property.

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Councillor for the Municipal District of Adare-Rathkeale and chairperson of the Joint Policing Committee Adam Teskey says he hasn’t been made aware of anti-social behaviour specifically in Askeaton but has stated that most towns or villages in the country have their issues with it.

“This is because of the fact that resources of An Garda Síochána are at a minimum,” Cllr Teskey said.

“There’s great pride and community there. There are good striving businesses and it has suffered as of late with the closure of the swimming pool,” Mr Teskey added.

As of now, there are currently four CCTV cameras in the town of Askeaton and according to the Head of Digital Strategy at Limerick City and County Council, Alan Dooley, there are “no current plans” to expand the CCTV network in Askeaton.

The issue of anti-social behaviour in the town has been ongoing for some time with local Askeaton councillor Kevin Sheahan saying that the locals in his community have described it as the “Wild West”.

Cllr Sheahan made the remark at a meeting of the Joint Policing Committee in September of last year.