‘All hell broke loose’ in Foxford estate – councillor

CONCERNS Fine Gael councillor, Neil Cruise.

Anton McNulty

A FOXFORD-based councillor condemned anti-social behaviour in a local estate when he claimed ‘all hell broke loose’ with the people responsible having ‘no regard for life or limb’.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening, March 1 in the Sliabh Rua estate in Foxford where a get-together in one of the houses resulted in fighting, shouting and roaring, property being damaged, cars being driven at high speed in the estate, and trees in the estate being knocked over.
Residents of the estate which, included many children, were kept up in the early hours of the morning and Fine Gael councillor Neil Cruise, who lives in Foxford, described what happened as ‘despicable’.
He told last week’s meeting of the Claremorris/Swinford Municipal District that the house in question had recently been purpose built for a family with special needs children and there was flagrant disregard for the other residents and the children.
“In one of the houses there was a get together when all hell broke loose. There were cars driven around the estate at high speed with no regard for life and limb. Obviously there was a certain amount of intoxication,” he explained.
He added: “I got a lot of representation on this on Monday and over the last few days and I think the behaviour was despicable on the night. There was flagrant disregard for the other residents, flagrant disregard for the children within the house who are my major concern. I am disgusted with it and I’d like to convey the disgust of members of my community and like to sympathise with the children of the house and residents of the estate.”
Up to ten houses in the Sliabh Rua estate were recently built and the new houses were allocated to the new tenants prior to 2019 when the area was within the Ballina Municipal District.

Investigation
Cllr Cruise said he has been in contact with the gardaí regarding what happened and was assured that the matter was being investigated. He also suggested that social workers should be asked to visit the home to ensure that the children living in the house are okay.
“The residents are people who get up early in the morning for work, have their children ready for school in time and I support them all the way. I hope this council does everything it can to ensure there is not a support of this type of behaviour,” he said.
Cllr Cruise received support from his fellow councillors who said that this type of behaviour should not be tolerated and a zero tolerance approach should be taken to anti-social behaviour.
PΡdraig Flanagan, Head of the Municipal District said he could not comment on the incident but reassured councillors that the council’s anti-social behaviour strategy will be implemented.