People feel 'unsafe and afraid' on the Blueway in Tipperary

Sporting and community groups are so concerned about the level of intimidation and verbal abuse that their members are subjected to on the Blueway walking, cycling and kayaking trail on the riverside near Clonmel that they have presented petitions to local gardaí calling for action to deal with the problem.

And a local politician has spoken of the intimidation that he himself experienced while walking in the area recently.

Cllr Michael Murphy said that he was threatened and verbally abused by a gang of youths while walking on a stretch of the Blueway between Mulcahy Park and Kilsheelan in the afternoon, after he had intervened when two young teenagers were intimidated while out cycling.

Cllr Murphy said that one of the gang had taken his photo, and he had reported the incident to the gardaí.

He said that such incidents seemed to be mostly occurring near Mulcahy Park and Carey’s Slip, near the Moangarriff roundabout.

At a meeting of Clonmel Borough District, Cllr Murphy called for extra garda bike patrols on the Blueway, particularly at weekends, to deter this ongoing anti-social behaviour.

He said it was a fantastic resource and only a small group of people was misbehaving.

The Nationalist newspaper has learned that one sporting group has written to the gardaí to inform them that several of its members have been verbally abused and intimidated when out running alone by gangs and individuals.

“The most recent incident occurred at approximately 4.30pm on Tuesday, April 18, when a gang of five males intimidated a lone female member of our club while she was out running - both on the way out and again on the return - on the Blueway in the vicinity of Mulcahy Park,” the group said in a letter sent to gardaí.

“This appears to be an area of late where groups congregate for drinking.

“While the victim reported the matter to the local garda station, the club is writing in support of our member and respectfully requests that more patrols be assigned to this area on a regular basis.

“This is becoming a huge concern for our members, particularly for our female members who are unsafe in carrying out daily running routines in this space.

“The Blueway is a fantastic facility developed for both young and old over the past number of years, and it’s very disappointing that now so many people are feeling unsafe and afraid to use this award-winning public amenity,” the club’s letter added.

At the Borough District meeting, District Administrator Carol Creighton said she had met with local gardaí following a number of incidents on the Blueway.