A grim picture of hoodies, acting allegedly on the orders of a local Godfather, erecting paramilitary flags in Coleshill estate and on the main Sligo Road at 2 and 3 o'clock during week-end mornings, with associated vandalism, was painted this week by a resident of the estate who rang the 'Herald' to let off steam.

While some of her venom was directed at the Police who, she said, were contacted but had either complained about lack of staffing or officers not finding anything untoward when they got there, her main targets were the Godfather (whom she named) and the young hoodies who took orders from him to put up the flags.

"I rang the Police last Saturday and a lady told me, 'we have sent a car out but there's nothing happening'. So, I told her these lads further down the park were annoying everybody. I told her that Coleshill is a non-drinking zone, but she said the officers she had sent in had seen nothing.

"We're understaffed, she told me, 'we haven't the resources to deal with it, yet the Chief Inspector is always on about anti-social behaviour".

She said Coleshill play area was rendered useless because of bottles and broken glass strewn across it every Saturday night, although she did admit that after she had complained to the Police, the play area had been cleaned up when she went back to check.

"But, when it's at its worst, I just won't let the kids into the park, what with broken glass, empty beer bottles and cans. I am just disgusted by it. During the week, Coleshill is OK because these people are working away but, when they come back, they wreck the quality of life for everybody, the disabled, the sick, the elderly and the young.

"They're out at 3 o'clock in the morning putting up paramilitary flags which we don't want, and there's one man (whom she named) who has got these kids mad. He buys the flags for them and, when they're asked why they do it, they say it's because he has told them to do it. He's like a Godfather in Coleshill, and he doesn't even live on the estate. He is the main problem in Coleshill'.

Chief Inspector Alwyin Barton, the PSNI Area Commander, said the Police are aware of real and valid concerns in the Coleshill community.

"The Police are keen to continue our work with the community in the Coleshill area and to explore ways in which anti-social behaviour activities can be reduced and indeed removed so that long-term residents in the Coleshill area can once again experience the harmony they have enjoyed for many years".