Kids tormenting estate residents with trouble

Kids tormenting estate residents with trouble

25 March 2015

CHILDREN as young as eight years old involved in anti-social behaviour at a Downpatrick housing estate could be jeopardising future funding opportunities in the area, community representatives have warned.

Windows in a number of homes at Leaside Gardens at the Flying Horse estate have been smashed by stone-throwing youths while missiles have also been hurled at cars driving along the Killough and Ballynoe roads.

Laser lights are being shone into people’s homes and also directed at drivers in the area and the South Eastern Education and Library Board’s mobile library and the Ballymote Centre have also been stoned.

The Flying Horse Ward Community Forum — which has worked hard to secure major investment for this part of the town — fears if the trouble does not stop it could impact on future funding applications to assist the ongoing social and economic regeneration of the area.

On Monday night, Forum members were joined by residents and representatives from the Ballymote Partnership Board in a public show of support for and to send out a message to the trouble makers that their behaviour will not be tolerated.

Forum officials believe two groups are responsible for the trouble. The first is made up of children aged eight, nine and 10, and the second has older teenagers.

Forum chairman, Éamonn Mac Con Midhe, has appealed to those involved in the trouble to “get off the backs” of the people in the Flying Horse and Model Farm areas, confirming the names of some of those allegedly involved in the trouble have been passed to the PSNI.

“The people have had enough,” he declared. “This trouble must stop. A lot of hard work and significant monies have been invested in this area and the people who live here deserve better. This part of the town has been transformed over the past number of years and we don’t want the area’s image tarnished by the mindless actions of a minority,” he added.

Forum member, Jenny Lavery, said the organisation is concerned about the image the troublemakers are portraying to potential funders. She warned if the trouble does not stop, the Forum will approach the parents of the young people believed to be responsible for the trouble.

“We are also prepared to meet those involved to see what their particular issues are and if there is anything we can do to address them. Is this trouble borne out of boredom or is there some other reason? We just don’t know. Whatever the reasons, we are prepared to do all we can to address them,” she said.

“The Forum and residents of this area want this trouble to end and can’t understand what kick those engaged in this behaviour are getting. It has to stop. Almost two years ago there were similar problems with young people stoning cars at the Killough Road but the residents took a stand and it stopped. That is why they are making a stand over the current issues.”

Flying Horse resident Michael Skelly, who has lived at the estate for 22 years, said a number of windows in a friend’s house have been broken by the youths and echoed appeals for them to stop.

“People should not have to put up with this behaviour. Residents want to be left alone. They should not have to live with lasers being shone into their homes and their windows broken,” he added.

Pat Branniff, chairman of the Ballymote Partnership Board, said the organisation is concerned at what has been happening and was pleased to make a stand with residents on Monday night “to make it clear this behaviour is unacceptable.”

He added: “We consider ourselves to be at the heart of this community and any anti-social behaviour of this nature is something we are very concerned about. The Board, like the rest of the people here this evening, want this behaviour eradicated. We hope that by standing together it sends out a strong signal that this behaviour has to stop.”