Community events help reduce anti-social behaviour incidents
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A COUNCILLOR has praised the success of a number of Halloween events in Ballyfermot, adding that there was a significant reduction in anti-social behaviour in the area compared to last Halloween, reports Aideen O’Flaherty.
A number of community events took place in Ballyfermot, including a zombie fun run in California Hills, a pumpkin party which featured pumpkin carving and train rides in Markievicz Park, a firework display in Cherry Orchard Park and a haunted house in Cherry Orchard Equine Centre.
Young people from Finland, Denmark, Italy and Ballyfermot who are in the Erasmus+ You Art Project performing in Markievicz Park
Vincent Jackson, an Independent councillor for Ballyfermot-Drimnagh, told The Echo: “1,000 people came to Markievicz Park on Halloween morning, and we had a group of young people from Europe who did some dancing.
“There was a zombie fun run in California Hills, we were expecting 300 people but around 500 showed up.”
Explaining how the activities, which organised by Dublin City Council in collaboration with local community groups, combated anti-social behaviour issues, Cllr Jackson said: “We decided to hold the events in areas where we’ve had problems before.
“I drove around on Halloween evening it was unbelievable how quiet it was. It shows that when you put on good quality events it reduces a huge amount of anti-social behaviour.”
Cllr Jackson added that the reduction in anti-social behaviour may also be related to recent community events.
“We’ve noticed in the last few months, with the celebrations for Ballyfermot’s 70th anniversary, that we’ve had a huge amount of people getting involved in community events.”
Looking ahead to next Halloween, Cllr Jackson said that “everything worked so well, that the plan is to build on that next year.”
