ASBO threat to pensioner

Brendan McIlmurray of Downshire Avenue said Executive officers investigating a complaint about bird droppings, linked the mess back to him and warned him about his 'antisocial' behaviour.

Brendan said the single complaint came from an absentee tenant about bird droppings on a window ledge.

"It resulted in two female Housing Executive employees notifying me the feeding of birds is not encouraged and that I may get an ASBO," said the Lurgan man who is in ill health.

"I throw the seed onto waste ground away from cars and flats. If I wasn't feeding them they'd still be there - they go to his window sill because there's no one there and they know they won't be disturbed."

Brendan, who has lived in Downshire Avenue for 12 years, said the complainant has not lived in the upstairs flat for three years and uses the premises as a postal address.

He said: "He also complained about a bad smell, not aware of a dead cat that had been removed from an adjoining flat after a tenant left. If he lived here he would have known about it."

Brendan continued: "I am aware of flats in the Taghnevan estate being used as drink and drug dens. Some of these flats have been set on fire as a result of antisocial behaviour. The Housing Executive don't go near those flats and yet they threaten me with an ASBO for feeding birds."

A Housing Executive spokesperson said: "There is no question at this point in time of the Housing Executive issuing an ASBO regarding this matter.

"The Housing Executive is obliged to investigate all reports of antisocial behaviour.

“The District Office received a report of a tenant feeding birds as the droppings were causing a nuisance to neighbours. We will continue to try to resolve this issue."