Tipperary council won all its civil court actions over anti-social behaviour in past 18 months

Two thirds of the 41 civil court prosecutions Tipperary County Council pursued against tenants in the past 18 months related to anti-social behaviour problems.

And the Council was successful in every one of those cases, Director of Housing Services Sinead Carr told councillors.

She said verbal warnings were issued in other anti-social behaviour cases that never made it to court

Ms Carr outlined the action the Council has taken to tackle anti-social behaviour problems in its housing across the county during a debate on the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy for 2024, which was approved by the elected members.

She was responding to Independent Cllr Jim Ryan, who said the Council’s response to anti-social behaviour was “not quick enough or tough enough” in his opinion.

He said he based this opinion on what was going on in his home town, Thurles, where residents in a number of properties were “causing hell” to other residents and had “absolutely destroyed” their lives.

He attended a public meeting about the problem and the residents affected by this problem wanted to meet with the Council. He urged Council officials to do so.

“We shouldn’t accept that level of behaviour in council houses.

“It wouldn’t be allowed in the private sector what is being allowed happen in council houses.

“Calling to these houses and giving a verbal warning to people isn’t worth a damn. The level of anti-social behaviour is appalling. It would be very important to meet with these residents,” he declared.

Clonmel Cllr Pat English said he also didn’t think the council was hard enough on anti-social behaviour, which he labelled as a “scourge” in estates.

Carrick-on-Suir Cllr David Dunne disagreed with Cllr Ryan’s assertion that anti-social behaviour wouldn’t be allowed continue in a private estate.

He reminded him that if you live in a council estate, there is an Anti-Social Behavour policy in place and a Tenant Liasion Officer to go to. But if you live in a private house, the only recourse you have is to go to court.

The Sinn Féin councillor raised the problem of drug dealing and declared that anyone caught using a council house for dealing should be evicted by the council straight away.

Meanwhile, Cashel Cllr Declan Burgess said he knew the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy didn’t accept anonymous complaints but he argued these situations are very sensitive and some people, particularly the elderly, are not confident putting their names to complaints due to fears of a backlash.

He believed anonymous complaints should still be taken on board by the council as people had valid concerns.

Responding to the issues raised, Ms Carr agreed no council resident should have to live in an estate where they can’t live safely and securely.

She said she was more than happy to meet with representatives of the residents Cllr Ryan spoke of to seriously tackle the issues.

She explained the Council has to go through a process in relation to taking action against people who engage in anti-social behaviour in council estates.

“We have been more than happy to do that.”

She said the council had taken 41 civil court actions in relation to tenant issues over the past 18 month and all were successful.

She later clarified to The Nationalist that rent arrears and succession disputes accounted for some of these 41 court proceedings but about two thirds of the prosecutions concerned anti-social behaviour issues ranging from noise disturbance and intimidation to rubbish dumping.

Ms Carr stressed it was wrong to give the impression that anti-social behaviour was common in council housing schemes.

The Council is responsible for more than 5,500 houses and the vast majority of their tenants treat their homes well and responsibly.

She said the Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy was very clear that drug dealing is not acceptable. But there has to be a conviction imposed for the Council to take action.

“We do work closely with the Gardaí. If they are convicted of drug dealing, we will proceed with the process on our side.”

On anonymous complaints, she accepted some people were concerned about intimidation but she stressed the Council deals with complaints about anti-social behaviour in a very confidential manner. For the Council to pursue a court prosecution, it needs the complainant’s name, she explained.

The Council couldn’t go into a court and base its case on anonymous complaints.

Ms Carr stressed complainants aren’t required to go to court or give evidence in the event of a prosecution. The evidence would be given by a Council staff member.