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Group in hoods via Shutterstock
ban hoodies

Mayo councillor calls for debate on banning hoodies to prevent crime

Michael Kilcoyne said people from Castlebar have told him they have been “terrorised” by people in hoods.

AN INDEPENDENT TOWN councillor in Castlebar, Co Mayo wants a discussion about the issue of people wearing hoodies and has asked the council to examine if there is something that should be done about them.

Michael Kilcoyne told TheJournal.ie that a lot of money has been spent on CCTV cameras in the town but those committing crimes cannot be identified because they “camouflage their faces with a hood”.

Terrorised

As an example, Cllr Kilcoyne explained that just a few months ago a bread van was stolen by two men in hoods. It was owner of the van’s last day of work before retirement and “gifts, good luck cards, everything in it” and the van was stolen and never found. The men couldn’t be identified because they hid their faces.

He said other people in the town have told him they have been “terrorised” by people in hoods and have suggested introducing a law that would ban anyone from wearing a hooded jumper.

He said, “it would not be acceptable if someone came up the street wearing a balaclava” and added that business owners “should have the right to refuse someone who is wearing a hoodie”.

The councillor raised the issue at a Joint Policing Committee meeting in Castlebar this week and said that “some people were supportive of it, others said it needed more discussion but no one disagreed.”

Poll: Should the wearing of hoodies be banned to prevent crime?

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