Foul-mouthed louts need to be booted from Mayo riverside walk

YOUTHS, sometimes masked, are intimidating and abusing strollers as they walk beneath the bridge beyond Dunnes Stores on the walkway to Lough Lannagh in Castlebar.

The route is part of the local greenway.

Last week I personally was subjected to a tirade of nastiness by a gangly chap who, as I approached, pulled a handkerchief over his mouth and nose to hide his identity.

Various foul-mouthed comments were made as I passed by.

Fearing a physical assault if I responded, I kept silent.

There were two or three others under the bridge, all male and youthful.

One lay flat on his back, a can of something or other within easy reach of his outstretched hand.

I gather from Michael Kilcoyne, a local councillor, that such incidents are not uncommon.

"I know some people won't walk under the bridge out of fear if they see undesirable types loitering there," he commented.

As I walked away from the bridge, breathing a quiet sigh of relief that I had not been physically attacked, I met a man walking his Alsatian.

I'd bet my last euro no abuse was hurled at him as he strolled past the loutish ones.

It's time action was taken to boot such foul-mouthed thugs from our otherwise beautiful greenway.