REPRESENTATIVES OF AN Garda Síochána are to meet with elected representatives and staff from the Ennis Municipal District over “ongoing and accelerating anti-social behaviour” in the county town.
Rising levels of crime were discussed at length during the September sitting of the Ennis Municipal District.
Calls for a sub-committee of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) to be established were made by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) focusing solely on issues in Ennis.
This request was not universally backed with a split between Cllr Flynn, Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) and Cllr Pat Daly (FF) who favoured such a move whereas Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF), Cllr Ann Norton (IND) and Cllr Mary Howard (FG) voicing their opposition while Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) was reluctant to see a new committee set up but wanted the issues of crime dealt with.
Also at the meeting, Cllr Colleran Molloy tabled a motion asking the Ennis MD to communicate with An Garda Síochána “to establish what efforts are underway to address the ongoing and accelerating anti-social behaviour in Ennis”. Her proposal was seconded by Cllr Daly.
Speaking on the issue of crime in Ennis, Cllr Colleran Molloy commented, “It is a big problem, it is not something that Ennis is experiencing on its own, the Minister for Justice is indicating 20% increase on speeding on roads because of the incredible carnage we’ve seen on roads”.
Motorists caught with the presence of drugs “is substantially higher than it used to be,” she added. “There is a recent spike in anti-social behaviour in Ennis but it is not alone”.
