Angry residents say vandals gone ‘mental’
By Maurice Garvey
VANDALS have gone ‘mental’ in Palmerstown in recent weeks, with residents pleading for increased garda patrols at the Ballyfermot policing meeting.
Palmerstown community representative Alan Hayes said a “wave” of recent incidents has seen vandals setting fire to stolen wheelie bins from Glenaulin in a nearby park.
Extra Gardai are needed to intervene with the increased level of vandalism in the area
“We have also had a spate last week of break-ins at cars,” said Mr Hayes.
“They were broken into, not stolen. At least five of these incidents happened in the Balllyfermot part of Palmerstown.”
Hayes, who runs the Palmerstown Neighbourhood Watch Facebook page, posted a warning for residents to make sure their cars are locked at night, following recent smash and grabs at Palmerstown Manor and Kennelsfort Road.
Residents reported similar car break ins at locations on Palmerstown Drive, Avenue, Culmore Road and Whitethorn.
Another longstanding issue raised at the meeting was that of gangs of young males harassing and intimidating residents who live beside some of the many laneways in Palmerstown.
“There was a lot of this anti-social behavior and egg throwing at windows last Summer, garda patrols put a stop to it, but the gangs are back again and we need garda to intervene,” said a Palmerstown resident at the meeting.
12 months ago, The Echo ran a similar story about thugs making pensioner’s lives a living hell in the area.
This followed a spate of attacks on homes located beside laneways, a stone smashing through the window of a terrified woman’s bedroom in one such incident.
