Residents 'living in fear' due to anti-social behaviour, Donegal councillor says

Incidents of anti-social behaviour in some housing estates in Donegal have left residents “living in fear” of leaving their homes at night, a Donegal County Councillor has said.

Councillor Michael McBride is calling for a Liaison Officer to be appointed by Donegal County Council and An Garda Siochana to deal with issues arising with some social housing tenants.

The Independent councillor told a meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District: “When some people get council houses they need to be held responsible for the way they treat their neighbours and their property. They have to live in a community the way you'd expect your neighbours to live.”

Councillor McBride said that there are some housing estates in the area where “people are afraid to go out of their houses in the evening and night time.

“There are houses where people are dumping rubbish in their back and front gardens and there are cars with no tax or insurance being used as storage.”

Saying that each case needs to be discussed individually, Cllr McBride said a plan should be in place to protect neighbours and the elderly in particular from intimidating behaviour.

The council responded by clarifying that a Tenant Liaison Officer already works within the Letterkenny/Milford Municipal District supporting anti-social behaviour prevention.

“The Tenant Liaison Officer works closely with colleagues across the Council services and with local Community Gardaí to address issues in relation to anti-social behaviour and estate management when they arise,” a spokesperson for Donegal County Council said.