'Police must take action before someone gets badly hurt'

Householders in Abbeyglen, just off the Glenville Road, have reported seeing nightly clashes between rival gangs of youths over the past few weeks. And they have warned that it's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured or killed as some of those involved have been spotted carrying iron bars and even knives.

It is understood that dozens of young people from Monkstown and Glenville have been gathering to do battle at a football field in the area, and that ringleaders on both sides are using mobile phones to call in teenagers from other local estates.

Following damage to houses and cars caused by youths throwing stones, residents in area have called on the PSNI to get a grip on the situation.

One local householder who has witnessed trouble on several occasions over the past few weeks described it as "recreational rioting."

"For the last couple of weeks youths from both sides have been taunting each other almost every night around the area of the playing field at Abbeyglen and the new path that goes through the Threemilewater Park," she explained. "It's the same thing that was going on this time last year."

"These kids are arming themselves with sticks, bottles and other weapons. If the police don't do something to stamp this out now someone is going to end up getting badly hurt," another resident added.

Read the full story in this week's Times...