Peaceful Halloween at troubled local estates

Peaceful Halloween at troubled local estates

4 November 2015

A LOCAL politician believes more needs to be done to ensure residents at two of Downpatrick’s largest public sector housing estates can live in peace.

There has been continuing trouble at the Model Farm and Flying Horses estates over the past number of weeks, with teenagers running wild and out of control, throwing missiles at cars and homes and burning furniture.

On Halloween night, councillor Gareth Sharvin joined local police on patrol at this part of Downpatrick. He said officers focused attention on the Ballymote area which has been a main area of concern.

He explained that as a result of agreement between community officials and police, it was agreed the Halloween bonfire would be moved to the Brannish Road, away from people’s homes.

Councillor Sharvin said police cover was increased last weekend to help ensure disturbances would be kept to a minimum, with officers deployed on foot and in vehicles.

“For most of the night the estates were peaceful and residents whom I spoke too were extremely pleased by the high police presence. One worrying issue which arose was two underage drinkers who required police help due to the amount of alcohol they had consumed,” he explained.

The Downpatrick councillor said he was concerned at the large number of young people who gathered at the bonfire and was informed the situation was being monitored by police with the duty inspector at the scene.

“I left the area around 1am by which time the crowd had decreased. Police informed me they would remain at the Brannish Road until the area had been cleared. The surrounding housing estates were still peaceful and it’s my understanding there were no major incidents,” he continued.

The following morning, councillor Sharvin returned to Brannish Road, explaining he was greeted with broken glass scattered across the main road, with a number of broken alcohol bottles also clearly visible. He said there was a lot of litter and it was clear trees and an oil barrel had been set on fire in addition to the main bonfire.

He continued: “What puzzles him is why there is a need for a bonfire at the Brannish Road? There  is a beacon lit at St Patrick’s Square in the town centre as part of the Halloween celebrations organised by the Downpatrick Community Collective, an umbrella organisation for a number of local community groups.

“There is much more work to be done in the Ballymote area. There is a need for the PSNI, Newry, Mourne and Down Council, the Policing and Community Safety Partnership and community representatives to work together to ensure residents can live peacefully in their homes.”