Burning of bins at Ballykeel raised by Tweed at Council

Raising the issue at last Tuesday night’s monthly meeting of Council, Cllr Davy Tweed called for a thorough police investigation.

The PSNI, however, say they are currently investigating reports of criminal damage in the area and that they consider tackling incidents of damage and anti-social behaviour as ‘a priority’.

Addressing last week’s Council meeting, Mr Tweed stated that in previous weeks, bins had been targeted at Ballykeel One “by thugs and lunatics” and said he was “sad to report that this has occurred again”.

Mr Tweed told Council: “People in Ballykeel One are very annoyed.

“I know there are restrictions on finance re the police but pensioners can’t do anything.

“Children as young as 10 and 11 are following a group of 10 or 14 and they seem to think it is a joke to burst in through a pensioner’s back door and set light to a bin in the middle of the night,” said Cllr Tweed.

He went on to describe the police response to incidents in the area as “disappointing” and expressed concern that children of such a young age were alleged to be involved.

“Every decent parent should know where their 10 or 11 year-old is at 2.30 or 3 o’clock in the morning,” he said.

“A police investigation is needed....police resources should be put into these things.

“If society doesn’t fight back where are we going to go?” said the Councillor, adding: “People are losing confidence with police at a local level”.

Councillor Martin Clarke claimed gangs were roaming between Ballykeel, Ballee and Harryville and “making a nuisance of themselves in these three areas”, not least by throwing stones.

He said that one week previously a number of cars had been damaged by stone throwers at Railway Street and Queen Street in Harryville.

“The police response was very poor but since that I have spoken to them (the police) and they have dealt with it - they got names and have visited certain homes,” said Cllr Clarke who pointed out that the gang members were aged from 10-15 years.

“They are operating in these three areas and something has to be done. Elderly people are scared to set foot on to the street at night!”

Responding to the councillors’ comments, a PSNI spokesman said tackling such issues is a priority for police and added that they would welcome contact from anyone who could help them to identify the culprits.

The spokesman said: “We have had several reports of fire damage being caused to wheelie bins in the Ballykeel area over the last few weeks.These are currently under investigation and we would like to hear from anyone who can help us identify the culprits.

“We are also aware of incident in which youths have gathered on the railway line and thrown stones at cars and shops.

“As well as the damage that can be caused, these youths are putting their own lives at risk,” the PSNI spokesman added.

He continued: “Police actively patrol all areas of Ballymena. Sometimes we receive reports of damage incidents after they have occurred. On these occasions we arrange to visit property owners at a suitable time.

“We do not ignore reports of criminal damage or anti-social behaviour. Tackling these issues are priorities for us and we want to gather as much evidence as possible to bring those involved to justice”.