The assault of a building contractor was a “despicable act” carried out by people who weren’t from O’Moore Place and weren’t connected with the area, according to Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley.
“Last week there was a very serious incident in which a contractor was assaulted while carrying out works,” she said at this week’s meeting of Laois County Council.
“It was a most despicable act. The person ended up with a broken wrist and injuries to his head. I totally condemn that,” Cllr Dwane Stanley said.
“Those that are supposed to have carried out this despicable act are not from O’Moore Place and don’t live there,” she stressed.
“There is anger and resentment at this despicable act,” she said.
“I was born and bred in O’Moore Place and I never came across an incident in which a tradesperson was treated in this despicable manner,” she said.
There have been numerous incidents in the area, which gardai didn’t respond to, she said.
She added that they did respond to the incident in question.
Terrified
“The people in o’Moore Place are intimidated and terrified in their own homes,” she said.
Having repeatedly asked for a regeneration of the area, Cllr Dwane Stanley said a muti-agency approach is needed to tackle the anti-social behaviour there.
“People are scared to put their heads up because they are terrified in their own homes,” she said.
Field
The issue was raised after the meeting heard that he council is looking to purchasing Doran’s Field at the back of O’Moore Place for social housing.
“I don’t think anyone in O’Moore Place would object to that,” she said.
Having had a recent motion on anti-social behaviour, Cllr James Kelly appealed to people to report such incidents.
He said the council would then get a full idea of the amount of anti-social behaviour going on.
Following the incident in O’Moore Place, gardai appealed for witnesses to what they described as an ‘attempted tool theft’.
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