The walls we build to protect us become prison walls
NEARLY half the residents of an upmarket housing estate in Limerick have said ‘No’ to the relocation of the Murray family, who had two children badly burned in a petrol bomb attack. More than 60 residents in Clonile have petitioned the city council not to purchase a house for the family.
The signed petition, which was handed into City Hall on Monday, was also given to Defence Minister Willie O’Dea and other Limerick politicians.
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Mr O’Dea said yesterday: “I received the petition and passed it on to the council at the request of the residents.” He declined to comment further.
Mark Waters marked time at 11:03 pm on December 13th, 2006 .
Does anyone know their reasons? I mean, what possible reason could they have for such a petition?
Apparently, they have no problem with the family themselves but they are worried that associates and enemies of the family coming into the area would cause trouble. They are also worried that there would be an increased Garda presence in the area.
Of course beneath all this there are other subtexts; among them the “effect on house prices” mantra that we hear so much these days as well as plain old fashioned snobbery.
I can understand the residents concerns but I don’t think the NIMBY approach solves anything. The more you try to shut out the big bad world, the bigger and badder it becomes until one day it comes for you. Shame on the politicians for ducking the issue and not showing leadership.
By the way, it looks like the move will go ahead so hopefully experience will enlighten the naysayers.
Yeah I read that excuse on another website, only it seems that this particular estate has had almost as many problems as the estate the family are coming from.
Not too sure how true that is as I don’t know the area in the slightest.