Demands that individuals who have committed criminal behavior be banned from Westport

WESTPORT councilors have called for action to tackle anti-social and criminal activity at a Westport home described as a “den of injustice”.

Significant damage was caused around the Order of Malta Westport building in the western town of Mayo last Thursday, leading to a man appearing before a special sitting of Castlebar District Court last Saturday.

The defendant gave a relative’s residence in Westport as his home address and in his address at the monthly meeting of Westport Borough Council/Belmullet Cllr Peter Flynn called on the council to take action to combat criminal behavior on the property he owns by the local authority.

_{Members of Westport Gardai at the scene at St John’s Place Westport, where two buildings and up to six cars were damaged in a rampage of destruction (Photo: Conor McKeown)}

“Unfortunately the person in a community center should not be there and it would not be the first time this person has been in court. He noted the address of the particular house in the town of Westport to which he has no connection. This is not the first time we have seen criminal behavior associated with this home and several other homes in the city.

“I ask that the problem be addressed because it has taken too long. It’s not right for people down there to live in fear. This is a retirement home and I will never know how it was originally allocated, but it needs to be sorted out once and for all.

“It is not right that this is being allowed to happen and it has literally become a hotbed of injustice where all kinds of criminal behavior is taking place and I demand that immediate action be taken to address this,” Cllr Flynn said at the meeting held in Westport yesterday (Monday) afternoon.

Support

He was supported by Westport-based council colleagues Brendan Mulroy and John O’Malley, who also called for action.

Cllr Mulroy said the people of this area of ​​Westport deserved their full support and described the events of that night as traumatic.

“Our thoughts are with everyone involved in this incident because it was traumatic to be involved and it is not good enough,” he said.

Independent councilor John O’Malley called for the person responsible to be banned from Westport by the court.

“It’s not the first time he’s come in and caused trouble, and if possible he should be banished from this city. If the courts can do this, it should be recommended to them,” he added.

Borough leader Seamus Ó Mongáin said the matter was being discussed with An Garda Síochána and the council would allow this to happen before considering the options available to it.