Cllr Angela Dobbins.
Police were called to the Culmore area of Derry on Saturday night after a crowd of 40-50 youths who had gathered at the Magnet Bar/Centra Stores had begun to set off fireworks in the busy car park.
SDLP councillor for the area, Angela Dobbins, expressed her concern about the number of incidents of ant-social behaviour in the area.
Cllr Dobbins, who visited the scene on Saturday night, said:”This now becoming a regular occurrence and is distressing both to residents in the area and to business owners.
“I urge parents to speak to their children about this disruptive behaviour, explain to them the distress they’re causing to others, especially the elderly and to keep an eye on where their children are.”
Cllr Dobbins said she had “continually” highlighted and as a parent, resident and councillor in the area had lobbied in council.
She added: “I am calling for community facilities in Culmore, somewhere where these young people can go and where they will not create problems.
“I reiterate, these are young people, most of them under 14 years old, there is no alcohol involved, but they are bored and causing mischief.”
Cllr Dobbins concluded: “Soon this mischief will become out of control and property will be damaged or someone will be seriously hurt.”
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