Published: Thursday, 29th July, 2010 6:00pm

Ennell residents want houses knocked

by Helen Sweeny

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Residents of Ennell Court are living in terror of a gang of young thugs who have been setting fires in derelict houses at the front of the estate. In the early hours of Monday morning the gang, some as young as nine years old, residents have said, returned once again and set two fires causing further damage to the already condemned houses.

A man in his 60s who lives in a nearby bungalow had to be rescued by neighbours. The elderly man was too frightened to leave his home alone.

"He thought that they would get him if he left the house alone," said one resident who helped to get the man out. "This is an almost nightly thing and we are too afraid to go out to them because they would come and break your windows during the night. We know full well who they are and where they live but if you say anything to them at all they call you terrible names, you couldn't listen to it.

"We are talking about children, not adults and the worse thing is that they aren't even from this area because all our children have grown up and left Ennell Court. They are coming over from other parts of the town to cause trouble. Some of these kids are as young as nine and the oldest wouldn't be 15. The parents should know where their kids are at night.

"You could set your watch by it - they come over about 7.30pm and the trouble starts up then. They came back twice on Monday, once at 7.30pm and then at 10.30pm and after the second fire the Gardaí stayed all night. They shouldn't have to do that but they did and the residents are very grateful for that."

None of the residents who spoke to the Examiner this week wished to be named and there is anger in the estate