A DOWNPATRICK pensioner has vowed not to be forced from her home after the latest outbreak of anti-social behaviour in two housing estates.
The elderly woman, whose bins were set on fire in ongoing trouble centred around the Killough Road, said the lives of residents were being made a misery by the actions of youths as young as 10.
The youths blocked the Killough Road with burning bins and then stoned firefighters during a series of disturbances over several nights in the Model Farm and Flying Horse estates.
The pensioner, who was one of several victims targeted by the youths on Tuesday evening, said the events of last week reminded her of “some of the dark days of the Troubles,” when riot police were deployed to the area.
And in a further twist to the pensioner’s troubles, Newry, Mourne and Down Council is forcing her to pay to replace her bins that were burned by the yobs during last week’s trouble.
Residents have complained of being “prisoners in the own homes” and have said the levels of anti-social behaviour in the estates have been intensifying over the past two years.
Their frustration was captured by the elderly woman who told of her distress at last week’s trouble and the fact that her property had been targeted.
“When I was told all that happened I was just freezing from head to toe,” she said. “I was shocked.”
Reminded of some of Northern Ireland’s darkest days, she said: “I remember seeing riot police during the Troubles. This year where I have been living is unbelievable.
“It makes me feel terrible. But I won’t move. This is my house.”
The pensioner said other older and vulnerable people in the area also had their bins stolen. She believes it is people from outside the Flying Horse and Model Farm estates causing the trouble, though some neighbours believe local people are also involved.
“These are bad, bad articles,” she said. “They are very young and they follow the older ones. They come from outside the area — Ardglass, Castlewellan, Killough. They like to cause a bit of trouble.”
The pensioner has been visited by police who she said were “very nice” and has taken additional security measures at her house.
“I would like to see action taken and it sorted,” she said.
“Where are the parents? Some of them are about 10 years-old. Have they nothing better to do than that?”
After further trouble in the area on Friday evening police said they arrested two youths and reissued an appeal to parents to ensure their children are not involved in anti-social behaviour.
In October last year the Housing Executive warned the parents of teenagers responsible for anti-social behaviour in the area could lose their homes, although there have been no evictions to date.
“Various tenants or their children who have been involved in anti-social behaviour have received joint visits from the Housing Executive and Police Service of Northern Ireland,” a Housing Executive spokesman said.
“Tenants have been made aware that they risk losing their tenancy, if they are involved in this type of activity. At this time, there are a number of anti-social behaviour cases open, but none have been progressed for eviction.
“The Housing Executive takes the matter of anti-social behaviour seriously. The Housing Executive have been working in partnership with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, the local PCSP, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the Flying Horse Ward Community Forum on a number of initiatives to address the issue of anti-social behaviour. This includes the use of warning letters, Acceptable Behaviour Contracts and referrals to its mediation service to support this.
“If incidents occur we would urge residents to report them to the appropriate agency.
“Where incidents occur we will, of course, work with those affected, the wider community, other organisations and the PSNI to resolve the situation.”