A limerick tale.

Cathal McCarthy wrote: »

My views and the views of my neighbours about Clarina Park can be found here: http://www.limerickregeneration.org/WGRA Vision Document.pdf it was our little plan for regeneration.

WESTON GARDENS – A RECENT HISTORY
Built over 100 years ago, Weston Gardens is a private estate consisting of nine terraced houses, three
of which were burnt out over a nine-month period in 2001–2002 by criminal elements living in the
neighbouring estate of Ballinacurra Weston. In the past seven years 11 of our residents have left
because of intimidation and 4 have died of natural causes. Our remaining 11 residents are a tight-knit
Community, committed to saving our historic homes.
Donal Flaherty, the elderly man who lived alone in No. 1 Weston Gardens had endured months of
harassment and intimidation; windows broken, horses placed in his garden, etc. Finally early in 2001,
when he was mugged in his own garden he moved out. Criminals who wanted to rent his house
approached him, he refused and told them that he was selling it. The “For Sale” sign wasn’t up a day
when his house was burnt out. Limerick City Council (LCC) refused to board it up, as it was a privately
owned house. The house was not insured and Donal did not have the means to secure his now derelict
property.
Paddy Hegarty, the elderly man who lived alone in No. 2 Weston Gardens now became the focus of
attention for criminal and anti-social elements from Ballinacurra Weston. He had horses placed in his
garden, stones thrown at his property, etc. His sister wrote to LCC in October 2001 warning of the
threat posed to her brother’s home by use of the now derelict No.1 by drug users and of fires lit in the
property. Eventually, in May 2002, No. 1 was set ablaze again and the fire damaged the roof of No. 2.
Finally, LCC boarded up No. 1. While Paddy moved out to allow repairs to take place, his home was
broken in to and burnt out. It was boarded up by LCC at the request of the Fire Brigade and Gardaí.
Joan Higgins and her Family, who lived in No. 3 Weston Gardens, became the next target for youths
from the neighbouring estate. They returned from holidays to find their home had been boarded up by
LCC at the request of the Fire Brigade and Gardaí after a failed arson attack. Subsequent to this attack,
their home was ransacked and vandalised.
Heather Cunningham, the owner of No. 4 Weston Gardens purchased her home in November 2000,
she moved out in 2002. She was being harassed and intimated in her own home on a daily basis. Both
adults and children from Ballinacurra Weston verbally abused her, she was threatened with being burnt
out and physically threatened at knifepoint on the boreen. She had also endured several attacks on her
property, including the deliberate demolition of her front gate and wall by a stolen car. Heather shared her home with two workmates, who were also intimidated out; one of them was
attacked and beaten on his way to work. The house is now occupied by a friend, Darren Maher, whose
sole purpose for living there is to protect the property. Darren also has endured harassment and
intimidation, including an attempted mugging. He maintains the garden and regularly cleans the
avenue. He spent the past two summers as a volunteer in Ballycotton, working with children from
Ballinacurra Weston and Southill. He has been an invaluable asset to our Community. Were it not for
his presence and commitment No. 4 would definitely have suffered the same fate as No.’s 1, 2 & 3.
Cathal McCarthy and Cindy Fogarty bought No. 5 and moved in with their baby in 2001, six weeks
before No. 1 was burnt out. They now have two children and at times it has been difficult, to say the
least. In June 2004, at 4am, six men kicked open their front door in an act of intimidation. In 2006 all
their windows were smashed while they were on holiday.
Breda Anslow was born in Weston Gardens in 1919. She lived in No. 6 with her brother Maurice, born
1917. Their autumn years were filled with fear and intimidation. Maurice died in 2003, Breda took ill in
2004 and was placed in a nursing home. She asked Cathal McCarthy to buy her home by private treaty
because she was afraid to put it on the open market, in case she was made an offer by the same
criminals that burnt No. 1. She died in 2006. Rob Garside now resides in No. 6.
Pauline Hammill was born in Weston Gardens. When her parents died she moved back to No. 7 with
her husband Tony and raised six children there. She was a tireless campaigner for the area and her
Family endured much torment. In 2004, Pauline was declared overall winner of the Fáilte Ireland
Welcomes Awards. She died suddenly in 2006. Tony and their son <snip> still live in No. 7.
Jean Leahy and Jerry Carey moved into No.8 in 2001, eight weeks before No. 1 was burnt-out.
Ironically, Jean had sold her home in Garyowen because she felt that it was getting rough and Weston
Gardens seemed like a quiet place to live. Instead, it was ‘out of the frying pan and into the fire’.
Colm and Ann Lowe bought No. 9 Weston Gardens 48 years ago and raised seven children there.
Because they were elderly and lived end-of-terrace they became the most harassed of the remaining
residents. Colm died in 2005 and Ann moved out in 2006. Although the area had become quieter and
plans had been shown to us, the harassment over the years had taken its toll and she was unable to
sleep at night. She sold the house privately in 2007 to our newest resident, James Walsh.
The residents of Weston Gardens had been campaigning informally since 2000, writing to LCC and
meeting with the Gardaí and councillors. We had all suffered individually from acts of intimidation and
harassment and it was obvious that our homes were being targeted one by one. Our informal approach
was getting us nowhere. Acting on the advise of the Gardaí, the Weston Gardens Residents’
Association was formed in February 2003.
We produced a video, “Weston Gardens: A Week In The Life” and sent it to Limerick City Council. We
also produced newsletters and briefing documents. After a number of false starts, LCC then held a
series of scheduled meetings with the WGRA and the Gardaí, which eventually resulted in the erection
of palisade fencing between Weston Gardens and Ballinacurra Weston. Street lighting was also
installed. We were informed by LCC that nothing further would be done for us unless we supported the
extinguishment of the right-of-way, which was eventually achieved in 2005. It was never properly
implemented.
Meanwhile, people from Ballinacurra Weston continued to dump domestic rubbish and horse manure in
the gardens of No’s 1, 2 & 3. Annual reports from Health Inspectors were ignored by LCC. Criminal
elements also used the gardens to stash weapons and drugs. In 2004 the Gardaí recovered €80,000
worth of cocaine, 2 handguns, 1 sawn-off shotgun, ammunition and a quantity of commercial explosives
on “waste ground” in the area. Even residents have found live rounds of ammunition on the street.
Residents have had stones, bottles and fireworks thrown directly at their person as well as their
property. Horse and motorbike racing on the boreen were regular events. Visitors to Weston Gardens
often had their cars broken into. One of the worst incidents occurred in June 2003, our postman was
stabbed in an unprovoked attack by a gang of 15 youths from Ballinacurra Weston. <snip>
We intensified our campaign, producing more videos etc; with the help of the Gardaí and persistent
complaints to LCC’s Tenants Enforcement Officer we have managed to turn the situation around.
Finally in 2006, LCC produced plans and money was secured for the refurbishment of our area. The
plans were advertised (twice) in February 2007, but never lodged. We eventually found out that
everything was suspended pending publication of the Fitzgerald Report, which LCC later insisted we
were part of because it mentions Ballinacurra Weston. We live in Rosbrien!

Cathal McCarthy wrote: »

What are you saying senor, that if someone has been convicted of a crime (in this case shoplifting) and served their time that they have no right to complain about anything? Even prisoners have the right to vote.