Local authority tenants came in for a lambasting at this week’s Joint City Policing Committee meeting with claims of drug dealing and copper theft going on in Council property.

Mayor Frank Fahy led the charge, demanding to know what was being done in relation to the wholesale burning of cable every evening around 5pm on the Headford Road. It was being burned to remove it from copper, which was often stolen and then sold on for a hefty profit.

This was being carried out by local authority tenants, whose only apparent income was from social welfare and who were living in council property at very minimal rent, the Fine Gael representative claimed.

“You have €30,000/€40,000/€50,000 cars and vans parked up. What’s the Revenue doing about it? These people are profiting from the proceeds of crime. Scrap yards are handing out cash. It’s the proceeds of crime and CAB [Crime Assets Bureau] should be informed.”

Chief Superintendent Tom Curley said the Gardaí were awaiting legislation in relation to the metal companies, which was currently in Dáil but not yet finalised.

Councillor Mike Cubbard asked if particular houses being raided for drugs were local authority houses.

“Is any action taken against the Local Authority tenants?” he asked.

Chief Executive of the Galway City Council Brendan McGrath said he took issue with comments about local authority tenants.

“99.9% of our tenants are law-abiding citizens. It would be wrong to give the impression it’s local authority tenants. The other impression would be wrong,” he insisted.

Mayor Fahy said what he had said was factual and he was standing by his statement.

For more on this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune