DRUG dealers and moneylenders are openly operating in Ennis’ town centre, it has been claimed by local traders.
Lower Market Street Resident Traders have also raised concerns about anti-social behaviour in the area, with the matter now on the agenda for the next meeting of the town’s Joint Policing Committee.
While confirming the issues will be discussed at the JPC, Superintendent Derek Smart stated there have been no complaints made to gardaí and he urged that if anyone has concerns, to contact them.
“The agenda for the JPC is the only record I have of any issues there; nobody has come forward to give any details of any incidences. From the reporting to me, there is nothing out of the ordinary compared to any other area of the town,” he said.
The concerns of the traders were outlined at a recent meeting called by the Purple Flag Steering Committee and Ennis Chamber on the continuation of extended opening hours, or Fabulous Fridays, in the town.
Several of the traders on Lower Market Street claimed a minority of youths are verbally abusive to people, particularly between 4pm and 8pm. The traders also claim to have witnessed, amongst other incidences, a weekly presence of moneylenders outside the post office, groups of youths loitering in an intimidating way, drug deals in view of the public, bins kicked over, speeding cars and aggressive behaviour.
They said this is a distress to traders, shoppers and visitors to the county capital and could inhibit efforts to promote evening business in the town.
The Lower Market Street Traders Association sent a letter, signed by 40 shopkeepers, to Ennis Town Council, with the matter now set to be discussed at the JPC involving members of the council, gardaí and community representatives.
David Woodford, of the Irish Shop and chair of the Lower Market Street Traders, commented, “The Lower Market Resident Street Traders are interested in working with the council and Ennis gardaí to prevent and eradicate anti-social behaviour in the streets of Ennis.”
Superintendent Smart told The Clare Champion they have not received reports of the issues referred to by the traders, adding that for anyone with issues to discuss “my door is always open”.
He said foot patrols have been increased in the town in the run-up to Christmas and it is the intention to keep this going. He also emphasised the strong stance taken by gardaí in Clare against illegal money lending. He said that while money lending had previously been mentioned at a JPC meeting, nobody has reported incidences in the Lower Market Street area to gardaí.
“I do believe that money lending is an issue nationally and as we have seen with the operation that was put in place in the last couple of days, it shows that we are determined to assist anybody who may be the subject of it. We would appeal to anyone who is a victim to talk to us in confidence and let us know about it. In order to proceed matters, we need to be able to gather evidence on it,” he said.
Councillor Johnny Flynn, a key stakeholder in the Purple Flag award, with safety on the streets as its core, commented, “The concerns outlined by this traders association were very detailed in outlining an ongoing worry to shoppers and shopkeepers alike. I believe it is from people on the ground observing situations every day that we can learn and make our town an even better place to shop and enjoy the afternoons and early evening.”
Jessica Quinn
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.