Concern expressed over 'increase in organised fights' in Cork city

A Cork city councillor, who also works in a youth setting, has expressed concern over what he has said is an “increase in organised fights” taking place in areas of the city.

Independent councillor Mick Finn, who works with Cork Education and Training Board, said he believes additional Garda resources are needed to crack down on such incidents.

“I know that gardaí in Cork are currently limited in what they can do, given stretched resources, so there needs to be an immediate increase in the allocation of new gardaí or an increase in overtime hours so that localised responses to these situations can be swift and effective,” said Mr Finn.

“Worried parents have contacted me about the impact these events are having on their children and the possibility that serious injury or worse is going to happen. They are afraid to talk about this openly, given the reprisals that could occur.”

Mr Finn said he had heard of a “serious incident” in the southside of the city two weeks ago, which “involved an organised fight with local teens and a gang from the northside”

“This has been a regular development in the last year,” he added.

The former lord mayor said that drug debt and intimidation are also “peaking” in communities. In the context of youngsters intersecting with the drug scene, he said he believes that there are insufficient efforts from the State or local agencies in trying to prevent young people from experimenting with illegal drugs, and that the focus instead is on treatment.

“Communities have unfortunately seen the impact and result of illegal drug use in recent years, with several high-profile cases involving death and violence,” said Mr Finn.

“Those with responsibility in this area must do much more to get the message across that using or getting involved in the drug scene can have catastrophic consequences.

“Prevention strategies must be reintroduced to target what is going on at the coal face.

“We in Cork ETB are rolling out prevention workshops to some of our funded youth projects in the coming months in a bid to kickstart a response, but this will be to a small audience, given funding issues... more will be required.”

Mr Finn said he will try to impress again on Garda management in Cork, as well as Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, “of the need for increased targeted measures for the city”.