Fears anti-social behaviour in Dundalk will escalate 'out of control'

Anti-social behaviour by a small group of teenagers in housing estates in Dundalk in the last number of weeks, which has included intimidation, criminal damage and thefts, has “the potential to escalate totally out of control”, according to Louth Sinn Féin TD, Ruairí Ó Murchú, and he has made a plea to parents to be aware of where their children are and what they are doing.

The Dundalk deputy, along with his party colleague, Cllr Kevin Meenan, has been working with Gardaí, youth leaders, residents and shop workers over the last number of days, to bring about an end to what he called “a spate of incredibly serious anti-social behaviour”, that has seen cars egged and houses attacked with fireworks put through letterboxes.

According to Deputy Ó Murchú, between four and 12 teens, thought to be aged between 13 and 16, have been engaged in an escalating campaign of intimidation, threats, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and thefts from shops for the last three weeks. 

The issues are understood to have initially started in Muirhevnamor, with some users of Dundalk Sports Centre, including young people with disabilities, being verbally abused and witnessing the youths attacking cars as they were leaving the centre.

Last week, the group started to target Greenacres and the shops in the area, with items being stolen, cars being egged and houses being attacked. Members of the public, including other teenagers, women and older people, have been severely verbally abused and threatened in a number of ‘sinister’ incidents over the last week.

Deputy Ó Murchú and Cllr. Meenan have been working in both Greenacres and Muirhevnamor over the last week, trying to put an end to the anti-social behaviour. The Sinn Féin TD said: “Cllr. Meenan and I have been in touch with many of those who have been affected by the outrageous behaviour of this small group of teenagers who seem to have been running amok for the last couple of weeks.

“We have spoken to community Gardaí, residents who have had fireworks put through their letterboxes and eggs thrown at their properties, shop owners and workers who have been threatened by these teenagers who have stolen items from their stores, car owners who have had their vehicles egged.”

Deputy Ó Murchú continued, saying that “while there have been increased Garda patrols in the areas affected, we have also become aware of longer-term issues where specific teenagers have been threatened and abused by these youths.”

He added: “It is utterly unacceptable what has been happening and people are really concerned and worried about what’s going to happen when these teenagers are on the streets, usually between 7pm and 10pm. There seems to be a core group of young people involved, and we are pleading with parents to be aware of where their kids are and what they are doing. We will continue to engage with all those affected and the Gardaí to bring about an end to this.”