Public meeting after anti social behaviour at Downpatrick estate

Public meeting after anti social behaviour at Downpatrick estate

29 May 2013

A PUBLIC meeting is being held in Downpatrick on Thursday to discuss ongoing trouble at two of the town’s largest housing areas.

The Ballymote Centre will be the venue for the meeting to discuss trouble caused by teenagers at the Model Farm and Flying Horse estates.

Over the past number of weeks, stones and golf balls have been thrown at vehicles travelling along the Killough Road which runs between both developments.

A car belonging to one lady was set on fire at the Flying Horse estate, while a window in a mobile library calling at the homes of senior citizens was smashed by stone throwers. Graffiti was also painted on the gable wall of a home at the Model Farm estate where a car was also covered in smashed eggs.

Tomorrow night’s meeting — which is scheduled to start at 7pm — is being organised by the Flying Horse Ward Community Forum, with local politicians encouraging people affected by the trouble to attend.

Representatives from the Down District Policing Partnership, the PSNI, Housing Executive and Social Services, are all expected to be at the meeting.

Councillor Éamonn Mac Con Midhe, who will chair the meeting in his capacity as chairman of the Flying Horse Ward Forum, said the local group has received numerous complaints about the actions of the unruly teenagers.

He said residents at both estates want the trouble to stop and are concerned that some of those engaging in disorderly behaviour are not from the local area.

“I am encouraging anyone affected by this trouble to attend tomorrow night’s meeting. We need to do what we can to stop it. People have had enough and local politicians are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them on this issue,” said Councillor Mac Con Midhe.

“We want all these unsavoury incidents, which do nothing to enhance the images of these two estates, brought to an  end.”