‘Cross-border’ Waterford/Kilkenny cooperation underway to combat Ferrybank arson problem

Measures to combat the spate of arson and criminal damage that occurred in Ferrybank over the summer were discussed at a Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) meeting at County Hall this week.

Dozens of fires have occurred in a small pocket of land over the last few years with the persistence of the issue causing considerable concern to local residents.

A multi-agency plan is being developed to provide a community response to prevent further damage and arson with stakeholders in both counties Kilkenny and Waterford to take part in the initiative.

Sgt Deirdre O’Neill, Crime Prevention Officer for Waterford, outlined the plan in a presentation to the LCSP and called for residents to report arson to Gardaí as the number of official calls they have received in relation to fires is a fraction of the total incidents.

The response to the problem is made more complicated due to the crossover of jurisdiction in Ferrybank with the Waterford Superintendent now having responsibility up to the Piltown and Mullinavat area.

Sgt O’Neill referred to this as a sort of “cross-border communication” that if started now would become more effective in the future.

Gardaí will be implementing the SARA process which includes steps of scanning, analysis, response and assessment once a problem has been identified.

A group comprising affected residents, the wider Ferrybank community, the Fire Chiefs of Kilkenny and Waterford, the Waterford and Kilkenny Local Community Safety Partnerships, Ferrybank Sgt Kenny Houlihan and Crime Prevention Officers, Sgt O’Neill and Sgt Eddie Brennan will then be formed to tackle the issue.

Some measures suggested included a working group to promote fire safety education and to plan for driving the message home during Fire Safety Week which is to take place from October 12-18.

Piltown Municipal District Cllr Jenny Catt Slattery (FF) highlighted the impact that the crime is having on residents who are “afraid for the value of their home” and that “we need lighting” as a preventative measure.

Cllr Fidelis Doherty (FG), also a member of the south Kilkenny Piltown MD called the problem “God-awful” and that “talk nationally is that parents have to do more”.

Other conversations centred around engaging with young people themselves to highlight the devastating impacts fires can have and increased engagement with fire services and gardaí with the aim of improving community relations and decreasing anti-social behaviour.

Chair of the committee, Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick (FF) concluded by saying “we need to stand up and call out crime for what it is”.