Fears over escalating anti-social behaviour in Ballinasloe

ESCALATING anti-social behaviour in the Ballinasloe area has ‘frightened’ residents, local councillors have warned – prompting calls for an increased Garda presence due to ongoing disturbances, fights and aggressive incidents.

Published 15th May 2026, 06:00 BST ​Ballinasloe...call for action on anti-social behaviour. ESCALATING anti-social behaviour in the Ballinasloe area has ‘frightened’ residents, local councillors have warned – prompting calls for an increased Garda presence due to ongoing disturbances, fights and aggressive incidents. Sign up to our Connacht Tribune Today daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Connacht Tribune within your account.

Sinn Féin Cllr Dermot Connolly said anti-social behaviour has significantly increased across the Ballinasloe Municipal District, and that urgent action is needed before "somebody is seriously injured".

“By the grace of God no one has been injured yet,” he told a recent Galway County Council meeting. “We need to focus on this before it becomes dangerous.”

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Officials acknowledged the seriousness of the issue at the meeting and admitted the situation was “difficult to get a handle on” and that they were “quite worried” despite ongoing engagement on the ground.

Speaking to the Connacht Tribune , Cllr Connolly said ‘everyone is aware of what is going on’ as he called for additional Garda resources to be allocated to the Ballinasloe division.

He argued that a chronic lack of funding and staffing since 2009 had contributed to the deteriorating situation.

“It's getting worse over the last six months. We are the worst-funded local authority in the country. There is a major deficit in our funding stream and staff levels to be able to make any kind of positive difference. It's the people at the coalface who are vulnerable.”

Independent Ireland Cllr Declan Geraghty described the situation as “out of control” and questioned whether those responsible should be relocated.

When you see young lads on bicycles firing stones through a person's house, a Galway County Council house, that is serious and it shouldn't be tolerated

“When you see young lads on bicycles firing stones through a person's house, a Galway County Council house, that is serious and it shouldn't be tolerated,” he said at the meeting.

“We are getting correspondence on a weekly basis. Does it require another liaison officer in Ballinasloe?”

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“There has to be another solution. I don't think that is fair to other residents .”

Speaking to the Connacht Tribune, he said residents had reported a range of anti-social behaviour, including aggressive arguments , fights outside homes and ongoing disturbances that were causing significant disruption within the community.

“There are fights and aggressive arguments taking place outside their homes. They like their neighbourhoods. You can only put up with so much for so long. People's mental health is at serious risk over this.”

He added that it remained unclear whether the incidents were linked to drugs or alcohol , but stressed the urgent need for increased community policing.

Fine Gael Cllr Alan Harney also described the situation as “hugely concerning” and called for greater co-ordination between Gardaí and the housing section.

“We need to stamp out these issues to ensure community safety,” he said at the meeting.

“We need to redouble our efforts and we need a comprehensive response.”

Related topics: Ballinasloe Sinn Fein Galway County Council People Mental Health Residents Connacht Tribune Drugs Alcohol Garda Independent Ireland Fine Gael Arguments Gardaí Disruption Sign up to our Connacht Tribune Today daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Connacht Tribune within your account.