‘My life is close to becoming unbearable’

AN elderly Omagh man says his life is close to becoming ‘unbearable’ due to an escalation of anti-social behaviour outside his home.

Desmond Preston and other residents of Lisanelly Avenue near Grange Park are becoming increasingly exasperated by the incidents which occur late at night in the car park close to their homes.

The issue was raised at this week’s meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council when Sinn Fein’s Barry McElduff called for an inter-agency approach to find a solution to the problems being faced by people living in the area.

He told the meeting that what the residents were going through amounted to ‘bullying and harassment.’

Speaking to the UH, Desmond Preston said that while the anti-social behaviour had been going on for some time, it has now become ‘unbearable.’

“I’ve just reached the end of my tether,” he revealed.

“I find the late evenings, particularly on a Friday or Saturday, especially difficult.

“Motorists come into the car park close to my home, they rev their engines loudly which wake me and my neighbours.

“This could go on until 2am or 3am. The rubbish they leave behind is terrible and the hedge adjacent to my home is being used as a toilet.”

Mr Preston wants the council to erect a barrier into the car park.

“Something needs to be done because people like me are bearing the brunt of this. We live in a quiet cul-de-sac but our lives are being tormented by these people.”

Mr McElduff outlined a list of complaints he has received from local residents: “Speeding cars, vile behaviour, including threats, insults, abusive language and gestures directed at residents and onlookers, urinating in the public carpark, general bullying and even drug dealing has taken place here in recent weeks,” he said.

“I am not pointing the finger at all those who gather or meet in cars at this location, but the problem is of such a scale and of such frequency now that words of condemnation need to be replaced by inter-agency action.

“Everyone has the right to enjoy the pleasantness of their place and their home without interference or harassment.”

A spokesperson for the PSNI said they were aware of concern about the anti-social behaviour in the area.

“I want to reassure the local community that we take this very seriously. We are committed to working towards a solution and welcome any information from the public and local elected representatives to inform what we are doing,” said Inspector Darryl Johnston.

The PSNI said it was continuing to work alongside partner agencies, local representatives and the community to find collaborative and proactive solutions to address the problem.