Anti-social behaviour concerns to influence location of first East Cork skatepark

Increasing anti-social behaviour by gangs of youths will be taken into account when choosing the location for the first skatepark to serve the East Cork region.

Cork County Council officials are currently looking at suitable sites in the Youghal area and have said they will take on board concerns raised by councillors about gangs of youths increasingly congregating in some playgrounds in the region at night and intimidating local residents.

At a meeting of the East Cork Municipal District Council, Independent councillor Mary Linehan-Foley raised the issue after requesting an update on site selection for the skatepark in her hometown.

Noreen Brennan, the region’s senior council official, said it would be premature to identify the sites being considered.

Ms Linehan-Foley said the right location should be chosen because of issues with gangs intimidating people living in some residential areas close to playgrounds.

She claimed this was happening at night at Youghal’s Greencloyne playground, where local residents “are being tortured” by gangs of youths congregating after dark.

“We’ve an ongoing issue there. What’s happening is scandalous. There are teenagers causing havoc out there in a residential area. 

"We’ve a duty of care for residents. It’s just wrong what’s going on there and I know the gardaí are involved in this one, so we have to be careful where we put the skatepark,” she said.

Youths congregating

Fianna Fáil councillor Patrick Mulcahy said up to 30 youths were congregating there at night.

“It’s very important we nip this in bud. They have no business down there,” he said.

Ms Linehan-Foley said there were also issues at the playground in Youghal’s Blackwater Heights, where youths were constantly “screeching and roaring” and upsetting local residents.

Social Democrats councillor Eamonn Horgan said there were similar issues in Midleton.

“Their whole behaviour is unacceptable. I fear it’s a much deeper issue in society with social media. It’s also an issue about a lack of services for that age group."

Municipal officer Susan Hegarty said she had been made aware of the anti-social behaviour at Greencloyne and was engaging with gardaí on the matter.

“This is why we should be careful about the skatepark location. The fact is parents are responsible for their children and it is up to them to control them,” Ms Linehan-Foley added.

Ms Brennan said she had taken the concerns on board and that they would be a factor in the council’s selection of a suitable site.