Anti-social activity on the Diamond prompts lively debate

Business owners in the centre of Monaghan Town are up in arms about escalating anti-social behaviour outside their premises, Cllr Raymond Aughey (FF) told Monday’s meeting of the Monaghan Municipal District.

Testimonies from retail and hospitality outlet proprietors describing a range of activities including public drinking and drug taking and harassment and intimidation of customers were “read into the record” of the meeting by Cllr Aughey when he moved a motion seeking the removal of public seating from the Diamond area of the town for a four-month period.

While all councillors shared concerns about the behaviour described, Cllr Seán Conlon and his SF colleagues opposed the motion on the basis that it can be seen to undermine the Monaghan Town Team business support group, which is opposed to the removal of the “summer seats”, as locals describe them, and favour an approach involving more stringent Garda enforcement measures.

A lengthy debate concluded with Cllr Aughey agreeing to defer his motion on the understanding that the Town Team meet concerned business owners to discuss the issue and attempt to reach an agreed approach. “If there is no agreement, I want the Municipal District to convene a special meeting to make a decision on my motion,” Cllr Aughey stated.

The FF representative, who himself operates a licensed premises and restaurant in the Diamond, described a recent incident during which three ladies in their seventies had a bottle thrown in their direction when leaving his business after a meal. The person, who threw the bottle and was subsequently arrested by the Gardaí, was sitting on one of the Diamond seats at the time, Cllr Aughey stated, adding that there is CCTV footage of the incident.

He recounted other instances of drug and alcohol abuse, people sleeping on the seats in the middle of the day, a person urinating into the decorative fountain at the Rossmore Memorial, and an incident during which an individual brandished a hurley at passers-by “and I don’t think he is a member of the Monaghan Harps hurling club”.

One trader spoke of groups gathering around the Diamond seating area for extended periods, consuming alcohol and playing loud music. The trader said that in February an individual defecated at the front doors of his own and an adjacent premises. He branded this behaviour “completely unacceptable” and requested that the local authority consider removing the public seating to discourage such activity.

Another proprietor referred to individuals congregating daily around the Diamond benches, drinking, shouting and causing a nuisance. “Our business believes this creates an unwanted first impression for visitors to the town,” they stated, describing how highly intoxicated individuals have abused staff and customers have complained about feeling intimidated.

Another submission claimed that all retailers in the area are disappointed with the situation and the problems mostly arise because of the seats.

The owner of another business claimed: “The situation is having a catastrophic effect on my business and is significantly damaging the local trading environment.”

“The town centre is a great advertisement for the Municipal District,” another businessperson wrote, “but the good work has been undone by the escalating anti-social behaviour problem in recent months.”

A further submission said the behaviour outlined is “not reflecting the welcoming and vibrant town we want to promote”.

Cllr Aughey said the CCTV cameras at the Diamond don’t seem to be a deterrent and, while the Gardaí are doing their job and making arrests, the culpable individuals return to the area in a day or two.

“The concerns among businesses are shared by all of us,” stated Cllr Alan Johnston (FG) in seconding the proposal that the seating be removed on a temporary basis. “As much as it might penalise law-abiding citizens, I think something has to be done.”

Cllr Johnston recalled an MD debate on the issue a year previous when it was agreed to monitor the situation but, unfortunately, the problems have persistsed.

Cllr Conlon revealed that the Monaghan Town Team is not in favour of removing the seats, noting that this type of situation happened at the Pound Hill in the town some time ago and removing seats hadn’t solved the problem.

“The Town Team has written to the Gardaí highlighting their concerns on the matter,” Cllr Conlon added, stating that the SF group on the MD has discussed the issue and is going to vote against the motion.

“The testimonies create a strong case for the proposal,” Cllr Conlon acknowledged, but added “there are other factors to bring into the equation. Do we let the reckless agenda of a few malevolent individuals set the tone for how we create our public realm spaces? My answer would be no.

“The Town Team are a representative body set up, funded and resourced extensively by us to promote the town and they are doing great work. If we go against them, it will be disrespectful.”

Cllr Conlon proposed that instead the MD write to Garda Chief Superintendent Alan McGovern and Garda Superintendent Pat O’Connell requesting, on behalf of business owners and visitors to the town, a more robust approach to the policing of disturbances in the town centre.

This was seconded by Cllr Niamh McCooey (SF), who agreed that the MD can’t let a small number of individuals who abuse the Diamond area hold them to ransom.

Cllr Conlon also suggested writing to the Town Team urging them to meet with Diamond business owners to try to work out a solution. “I do not want us to usurp the authority of the Town Team,” he stated, adding that the business support body can be asked to convene a full Town Hall meeting on the issue.

After further debate, Cllr Aughey agreed to defer his motion pending the outcome of engagement between the Town Team and concerned businesspeople.