The number of break-ins and major rows of the streets of Castlebar has caused “unease for residents of the town”, Councillor Michael Kilcoyne, told the Castlebar JPC on Monday.
However, Inspector Martin Byrne said that serious assaults and public order incidents have “reduced significantly” in the past year, with a 20 per cent reduction in the Castlebar area.
Cllr Blackie Gavin said that over the weekend “professional” break-ins occurred in the Turlough/Ballinrobe Road area, which along with anti-social behaviour in the town has left elderly people in the town centre frightened. Cllr Gavin said that doors in the Lucan/Charles Street area have been kicked in and he noted the amount of outdoor drinking taking place in the Garryduff/St Bridget’s Crescent area, where he himself observed 40 people drinking there one night.
Inspector Byrne said that gardaí were monitoring outdoor drinking on a regular basis, with particular attention focused at Lough Lannagh and Scoil Raifteirí . “We felt we were getting on top of outdoor drinking” the inspector said “as we are not getting as many complaints”, however he said that he would follow up drinking in the Garryduff area.
