Limerick traders in plea to 'make our city safer' after rise in incidents
SENIOR gardaí are being asked to attend a meeting next week to address a spike in criminality and anti-social behaviour in Limerick city.
It follows a number of reported incidents including scrambler bikes being driven dangerously, open drug taking and physical assaults.
Councillor Catherine Slattery, who organised the special meeting, set for Thursday, September 7, said: “Limerick is a beautiful city and we need and want our city back”.
“Scrambler bikes have taken over our city. Teenagers are being attacked by other teenagers and it’s being filmed and put on social media.
“People are frightened to go into the city centre during the day, not to mind at night, and this has to stop,” said Cllr Slattery.
Shane Gleeson, whose family have traded in the city centre for decades said he’s had to reduce the opening hours at his Spar shop in Catherine Street.
“There is a growing issue with serious, aggressive anti-social behaviour. We have already shortened our hours. We close at 9pm now. A number of years ago, we'd have closed at 11pm. We’re actively considering closing earlier again.
“It’s about the presence on the street and it becomes more apparent during the hours of darkness.”
The businessman said after dark his staff are scared to use a nearby laneway which is an access point for his shop, for fear of being attacked.
“It shouldn't be an issue using it. It's not OK - we shouldn’t be nervous,” he added.
Another trader, a coffee shop owner, has reported seeing “open drug taking” on the streets.
It's something Cllr Slattery alluded to, saying: “People do not want to sit on outside seating with drugs being taken right in front of them.”
As well as more gardaí on the streets - or “leather on concrete”, Mr Gleeson wants officers better paid.
“It appears there is a crimewave but it's not really. It's just a small number of people who are acting outside of societal norms and they think it's OK as they don't get punished,” he said.
“We're not in a Dublin situation yet, but we are heading in that direction,” he warned.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee has stepped in to provide €10m worth of measures to support policing in the capital.
“What about Limerick and the rest of the country?” asked Cllr Slattery,
“We need a 24-hour garda presence in the city as traders are losing business here.”