Galway City shoppers ‘intimidated’ by scourge of street drinkers

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Street drinking and associated anti-social behaviour in Galway is dissuading customers from entering popular city centre stores.

The proprietor of a well-known business has raised concerns over “ongoing intimidating behaviour” outside shops on the city’s main thoroughfare.

“We have had customers turn away because they sometimes feel threatened by the atmosphere they encounter outside,” the store manager said.

Meanwhile, businesses ‘back the West’ are also concerned about drug dealing and drug taking in the area. Simon Heaslip, Chair of Galway’s Westend, said the area’s biggest problem is “open [drug] dealing in Pump Lane that takes place on a regular basis”.

“There is also a large amount of anti-social behaviour in Fr Burke Park with either underage drinking or drug dealing and drug taking,” Mr Heaslip said.

The concerns were communicated to Galway Business Watch, which held a meeting yesterday (Thursday) at Galway Chamber’s office to discuss retailers’ concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour. Galway Gardaí and Galway City Council representatives addressed the meeting.

Former mayor, Councillor Niall McNelis (Labour) said the experiences of both businesspeople was “startling”.

“I think it is startling that in the city centre you have examples of where policing is falling down,” said Cllr McNelis, a member of Galway City Joint Policing Committee (JPC).
This is a preview only. For full coverage and to read the Council statement in full, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. Buy a digital edition of this week’s paper here, or download the app for Android or iPhone.