Gardaí say no increase in anti-social behaviour at Mullingar Town Park

Gardaí have not seen any increase in anti-social behaviour at Mullingar Town Park or at the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar, the Joint Policing Committee heard on Monday.

The issues were raised by Mullingar town mayor, Cllr Hazel Smyth, who claimed that “another” bench had been removed from the town park because of anti-social behaviour.

She went on to say that executives at the hospital claimed there had been an increase in calls to the gardaí, maybe she suggested, because of people presenting with mental health issues.

Superintendent David Nolan said he was not aware of any increase in anti-social behaviour in the town park. He said there are gardaí on foot and pedal patrol there. The town park is an excellent amenity, he said, adding that any time he has been there, he has not witnessed any misbehaviour.

He said he was not aware of an issue with benches at the town park, but he would examine the situation.

Chief Superintendent Fergus Healy said that hospitals can be difficult places to work, but the gardaí have not seen any increase in incidents at the Mullingar hospital. He told Cllr Smyth he would “take on board what you way and have a look at it in more detail going forward”.