No hysteria for Rochestown

Increased garda presence in the Rochestown area has been described as paramount as a local councillor ruled out vigilantism following a bout of anti-social behaviour.

Concerned residents from Rochestown and surrounding areas gathered this week at a crisis meeting to discuss a sudden spike in aggressive anti-social behaviour. The meeting, which invited local business owners, councillors and gardaí to attend, was hosted by the Rowan Hill Residents group.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Mary Rose Desmond attended the meeting and said that it was a calm affair with “no hysteria”.

Cllr Desmond said: “There was a very large attendance of concerned residents at the meeting. I think it was a positive meeting. People had the opportunity to voice their concerns. I don’t think any vigilantism will take place. Upholding the law is the role of the police.

“Residents are getting their message heard and are being very proactive with gardaí as to what they want to do next.”

Cllr Desmond said that the Rochestown area has seen a gradual increase in anti-social behaviour in recent times, something she attributes to a lack of visible garda presence.

“Residents are rightly concerned. We have a lack of resources and garda presence in Cork. The city is scourged with it across the board, but it seems to have come to a peek over the weekend,” she said.

“Antisocial behaviour has been on the rise, but this is at a new level. This string of anti-social activity would be quite uncharacteristic for what is a very peaceful and decent community,” she added.

A total of four separate incidences of aggressive anti-social behaviour took place in the Rochestown area last weekend, one of which was the mugging of a man in his late 60s as he returned from visiting his wife’s grave.

John Wall left a shop in Mount Oval on Saturday evening and was set upon by a group of three young males and two females who stole his wallet and his wedding ring.

Speaking to 'The Neil Prendeville Show' on Cork’s RedFM yesterday, Mr Wall’s son Jayson said that one of the youths approached his father from behind and “gave him a slap into the side of his head and broke his glasses” before continuing to kick him on the ground.

“His glasses were imprinted around his eyes the morning after. He’s on strong painkillers now,” said Mr Wall’s son.

That same evening a 17 year old male was attacked at nearby Garryduff and suffered multiple injuries to his nose and chest. The previous night Bus Éireann was forced to suspend its 216 bus at Maryborough Hill due to anti-social behaviour, while a second assault on a teen is reported to have taken place in the Mount Oval estate.