Calls for gates to be installed at city council housing development to curb antisocial behaviour

Residents in a city-centre social housing development say their communal space has become a magnet for antisocial behaviour and are calling on Cork City Council to install security gates at two of its three access points.

Three years ago, what was once a city centre garage and a local authority car park became a social housing development containing 43 homes, with 21 one-bed apartments, 16 two-bed and six three-bed houses, a park and a playground. 

The scheme, which is managed by Clúid Housing on behalf of Cork City Council, is located in Rutland Square, just off of White St.

Now residents say their area has, of late, become a haven of antisocial behaviour, with the square’s three entry points making it a rat-run for illicit drinking and drug use.

One resident, Brian Duffy, told The Echo that residents have grown increasingly fearful of non-residents engaging in antisocial behaviour in the square, with used needles dropped in the public area and some people being threatening and abusive of residents.

He said residents had been advised by community gardaí that putting security gates on two of the three entrances would be helpful in addressing the issue.

“As things are, when we call the gardaí, people using it for illegal drugs and things like that can get away through one of the other two entrances, which is what is drawing them here in the first place,” he said.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said she had been attending night classes in the nearby College of Commerce, and she had to get her husband to come and collect her each evening, as she did not feel safe walking home unaccompanied.

“I have young children, and we can’t let them go outside and play, because there are strangers around all the time — there was a woman unconscious on the ground only last week, and you couldn’t let a child out alone anyway in case they pick up a needle,” she said.

“It’s a shame, because the apartments are beautiful and the neighbours are so good.”

Fine Gael councillor for Cork City South Central, Shane O’Callaghan, said he had put down a motion to Cork City Council proposing the installation of two security gates, and that is currently being considered by the executive.

“I have met the residents and visited their homes, and it’s a lovely place, there’s a great outdoor area there, but the problem is that in recent times it has become a hub of antisocial activity, with people who don’t live there coming in, dealing drugs, using drugs, because they see the area around it as a safe haven, and with three entrances and exits, they have two escape routes.

“It’s an unacceptable situation, and a lot of the residents have small children, they’re not able to go outside because there is illegal drug use outside their doors.”

Cork City Council was asked for comment.