Athlone Town Mayor, Cllr. Aengus O’Rourke, has implored the adoption of a united approach to quell persistent anti-social behaviour following a fire incident which occurred on Monday.
The fire, which was attended to by the local fire brigade service, started at a derelict premises in St. Mary’s Place and spread to an adjoining household which necessitated the occupant to receive medical treatment for smoke inhalation in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe.
As Gardai continue their investigation into the incident, the Town Mayor was forceful in his views that the co-operation of a number of local groups was necessary to stamp out anti-social behaviour now regularly occurring within the local community.
“The scene of this fire is an alleged anti-social behaviour den and when a fire guts this premises and sadly, results in the hospitalisation of a neighbouring house, I believe it is now time for relevant members of the Gardai, housing, health and local authority to unite and activate a plan to prevent anti-social behaviour on our streets spiralling out of control. We must afford our thoughts towards the mitigation of such petty criminal activities and we must do so immediately,” Cllr. O’Rourke stated.
Stabbing Incident
Meanwhile, Gardaí have arrested a man following a stabbing incident at Bower View in the early hours of Saturday morning. Sergeant Andrew Haran informed the Athlone Advertiser that a man in his 20s received a knife wound to his neck during the incident and was removed to Tullamore Hospital where he is now stable.
“A man in his 20s was arrested for a Public Order Offence and will appear before Athlone Court on October 7,” Sergeant Haran confirmed.
