Residents’ group take action to end living ‘nightmare’ surrounding vacant homes

The ultimatum was tabled by Galliagh Community Response (GRC) after its members secured a property at Fergleen Park, which residents have warned has been a magnet for anti-social behaviour for many years.

The GRC found alcohol and drug paraphernalia including used needles at the debris strewn site and have begun clearing and refurbishing the property.

The GCR was founded back in November after a large gang of youths descended on Galliagh and ran amok across the estate. Volunteers have since been patrolling the streets of their own estate in a bid to take back control and to help ensure residents can feel safe in their homes. They have also introduced a range of community initiatives.

Speaking about the move to secure the property at Fergleen Park, the founder of Galliagh Community Response, Colly McLaughlin told the Journal they wanted to see homes which have been lying empty for years put to good use at a time when there was so much homelessness in the city.

“This house has been laying empty for years and has attracted a steady flow of anti-social behaviour and drug taking, evidence of this left all over the house, garden and street in general.

“This has inflicted mayhem and misery on the local community especially the neighbouring house of an elderly lady and her disabled daughter. The locals in the street has called for action to be taken and we obliged. We will challenge this in any possible way we can.”

The GCR have urged those with responsibility for such homes to act “or we will take the property for the good of our community”. “Our main aim here is to get the houses back into use. We are aware of quite a number of properties that are lying like this. We are currently trying to investigate why they are lying empty and what is happening as it is a disaster for residents.”

Residents in Fergleen Park have praised GCR and said that their actions have brought peace of mind.

Long-term resident Monica Harkin lives next door to the derelict house with her disabled daughter Joanne and said she was “really delighted”. “We are actually sleeping now at night again.”

Five years ago Monica Harkin had to lead her disabled daughter Joanne to safety through thick smoke after youths set fire to the oil burner of the derelict house next door and it spread to her home.

The shocking episode was however just one chapter in an ongoing saga of anti-social activity in and around the property. Housing Executive tenant Mrs. Harkin said that the vacant house next door was previously targeted by thieves and used for partying. She has also referred to the house as “Fergleen’s land-fill site” because of the amount of rubbish dumped there.

It is understood efforts have been made by the Executive to try to contact whoever is responsible for the privately owned property and GCR have also been making enquiries. In years past some measures were undertaken to prevent youths accessing the house but they have still repeatedly managed to get inside and make life a misery for residents.

Mrs Harkin said: “It’s been sore on the nerves.

“People say why don’t you move away, but this is our home and Joanne would be lost if she wasn’t here.

“When it came down to brass tacks it was community spirit of the neighbours that kept us going, even the youngsters in the street here would go and challenge them if anybody was in around that house.”

Monica praised her neighbours, and the GCR team for taking onboard the concerns of local people. “Thank God for them. They know it’s not their house and are willing to hand it back providing it’s a decent neighbour.

“Joanne was singing the other morning again. I was glad to hear it. I’ve noticed a change already.

“And we have great neighbours and the people of Fergleen have always been rallying around us. They are so good. They have been unbelievable and Joanne and myself would be lost without them.”

Mrs Harkin had a special thank you for neighbour and friend Sharon McLaughlin, who told the Journal: “The abuse Monica gets off them is unbelievable, threatening to burn her out and put her windows through,” she said.

“These are not young people from Fergleen. The wains in the street look out for Monica and Joanne and everyone thinks the world of them,” Sharon said.

Sharon’s own family had a close shave when youths set fire to a bin bag beside the gas box outside her own front door. “I have had my bins burned as well,” she said. “It is ridiculous what’s been going on with that house.

“If you go out and tell them to move on the abuse you get is unbelievable. I am really glad the group are taking it over. It’s a massive relief.”

“From they have taken it over the last two weeks, it has been a Godsend, I have slept all night. They are doing so much good work, it’s fantastic, and they deserve to be recognised.”

*More on Galliagh Community Response’s work in Galliagh in Friday’s paper.