Brief outline to the story:
We live in a newish estate (built in the last 4 years). In the past 6 months, one of our neighbours has moved out and subsequently let their house. Their tenants are causing undue trouble and stress. Their children run riot around the estate, wrecking gardens and stealing other kids toys - we also found them getting into an open private car this afternoon. They have little or no regard for the roads in the estate and don't look when crossing the road and many residents have had near misses, not because of dangerous driving or excessive speeds but because of children running out in front of cars onto the road without looking. The children are left out to play until well after 11 at night. I was shocked to see a child who couldn't be more than 4 running around the estate with no trousers, shoes or socks on one evening at midnight, unsupervised.
The family enjoy rowing in the front garden, and that coupled with the modified cars they are repairing/playing with going around the estate at all hours is unbelieveably disruptive. Coming home from work the other evening I myself was nearly knocked down crossing the road by 3 cars in quick succession, all driven by children (yes children) who couldn't have been more than 14.
We have approached the family directly in numerous occasions to ask them to keep noise down at all hours, and to speak to them about the children's safety on the road. Each time, we are met by "no speaka d english" and the door slammed in our face. With no alleviation of the problems at all. However, we have seen the same family selling items at a local market and they have no problems speaking english then!
Needless to say, we practically have the local Garda station on speed-dial, along with many of our neighbours. We have found them to be extremely apathetic to our plight, being reluctant to take statements, go after the cars which we witnessed being driven by underage children, even though we gave them the number plates etc, and they have informed us that there is little they can do, apart from the occasional drive around.
We've contacted the local social worker in relation to the children in the house who informs us that unless they can physically see themselves the children being mistreated there is little they can do either.
Where to from here? We have no contact details for the owner of the property. We've tried to get the Gardai to help us, and social services and both haven't been great either.
Any advice please? Thanks
We live in a newish estate (built in the last 4 years). In the past 6 months, one of our neighbours has moved out and subsequently let their house. Their tenants are causing undue trouble and stress. Their children run riot around the estate, wrecking gardens and stealing other kids toys - we also found them getting into an open private car this afternoon. They have little or no regard for the roads in the estate and don't look when crossing the road and many residents have had near misses, not because of dangerous driving or excessive speeds but because of children running out in front of cars onto the road without looking. The children are left out to play until well after 11 at night. I was shocked to see a child who couldn't be more than 4 running around the estate with no trousers, shoes or socks on one evening at midnight, unsupervised.
The family enjoy rowing in the front garden, and that coupled with the modified cars they are repairing/playing with going around the estate at all hours is unbelieveably disruptive. Coming home from work the other evening I myself was nearly knocked down crossing the road by 3 cars in quick succession, all driven by children (yes children) who couldn't have been more than 14.
We have approached the family directly in numerous occasions to ask them to keep noise down at all hours, and to speak to them about the children's safety on the road. Each time, we are met by "no speaka d english" and the door slammed in our face. With no alleviation of the problems at all. However, we have seen the same family selling items at a local market and they have no problems speaking english then!
Needless to say, we practically have the local Garda station on speed-dial, along with many of our neighbours. We have found them to be extremely apathetic to our plight, being reluctant to take statements, go after the cars which we witnessed being driven by underage children, even though we gave them the number plates etc, and they have informed us that there is little they can do, apart from the occasional drive around.
We've contacted the local social worker in relation to the children in the house who informs us that unless they can physically see themselves the children being mistreated there is little they can do either.
Where to from here? We have no contact details for the owner of the property. We've tried to get the Gardai to help us, and social services and both haven't been great either.
Any advice please? Thanks