Council Defends it's Position on Drinks-Drugs Houses

In response to recent criticism over vacant houses in Muirhevnamore being a haven for nightly drinks/drugs gatherings, a member of Dundalk's Town Council Housing Section attempted to play down the councils responsibility in the matter.

Denis McArdle, for the Council, said there wasn't many vacant boarded-up houses belonging to the local authority in the estate at the moment, and that one vacant house in Doolargy Avenue is privately owned.

Some of the residents there, who are suffering the strain of the nightly booze and drugs gatherings, feel that even one vacant house is one too many.

Councillor Kevin Meenan, who has raised the subject at various council meetings, is sympathetic to the effected residents, and is adamant that a number of vacant houses, at Crescent One in the estate, has created a huge anti-social behaviour problem.

He firmly believes that both the council and the Gardai should play a more active role in the problem. At the moment if the Gardai are called to area their role is confined to merely moving the gangs away from the houses, but they are back within a short space of time. The council, he also believes, should move quickly to have vacant houses refurbished for new tenants, preventing the situation from occuring in the first place.