Residents of a Ballybane estate have pleaded with Galway City Council to intervene to prevent a house bought under the affordable housing scheme from continuing as a den for antisocial behaviour, creating a living nightmare for a single mother living nearby.
Vandals targeting the house in Sruthán Mhuirlinne have almost toppled the boundary walls, torn the window frames off, fouled the door with dirt and destroyed the gas and electricity boxes.
Every night a group of youths gather outside the property, making noise and creating a nuisance for neighbours, including damaging cars.
A spokesman for the residents’ association of the Mhuirlinne Estate said despite the Gardaí being called regularly, the antisocial behaviour has only intensified in the last 18 months.
“It’s only a matter of time before they break into it. It’s a terrible eyesore. But more worryingly it’s very frightening for a single mother living there. Her car was jumped upon and her wing mirror broken,” he told the Galway City Tribune.
Asking not to be named for fear of being targeted himself, the resident said the association has met several times with council staff in a bid to address the problem house, which was purchased under the affordable housing scheme.
“We understand that a bank has taken it over, but surely the Council has a stake in it if it was bought through this scheme. The whole estate was never finished properly, we didn’t get our playing pitch that was promised or crèche or community house – the Council are washing their hands even though all houses were either social or affordable homes,” he stated.
“I think it is a shame how the bank and the council can stand by and allow this happen when so many people are homeless.”
A spokesman for Galway City Council said while the local authority was aware of the residents’ concerns it had no role in the maintenance of the property as it had not been involved in lending money to purchase it.
Where properties are left in a state of complete dereliction, a complaint could be made to the environment section for its inclusion on a list of derelict sites.
When an owner or institution such as a bank is found not to comply with an order to fix up a derelict property, they can be subjected to significant fines, which can amount to annual levies of 3% of the market value.
At a public meeting in late 2013, a public meeting heard antisocial behaviour around four estates in the area was destroying the quality of life for residents, who called for a greater Garda presence, improved public street lighting and the installation of CCTV cameras.
Groups of teenagers are congregating in the vicinity of Merlin Woods at night and were being blamed for vandalism in Sruthan Mhuirlinne, Coillte Mhuirlinne, Clos na Coille, Leas na Coille, and Bother Walthmann.
The Council spokesman said it had been in contact with CCTV camera companies and were considering erecting them in the area.
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