Evict ‘neighbours from hell’ protest in Hamilton

Jun 11 2009 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

RESIDENTS in a troubled Hamilton housing estate this week called on council bosses to evict ‘hell neighbours’ who they claim have been making their lives a misery for years.

On Monday between 50 and 60 people in the Tinto View and Loudonhill Avenue area demonstrated outside a block of flats where William ‘Winky’ Kirkwood and his partner Mary Ann Kennedy live.

They accused the couple and their children of trashing property and harassing householders.

Between the start of the year and the end of May, police were called out to the area 27 times to deal with a range of complaints, many concerning the Kirkwoods and their children.

Matters came to a head last Friday when Kirkwood and Kennedy, both 31, were arrested and charged with breach of the peace.

When Kennedy appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Monday, her not guilty plea was accepted by the Crown. Kirkwood, however, admitted terrorising neighbours with knives and bottles.

Mary Ann Kennedy spoke to the Advertiser following her court appearance and accused neighbours of anti-social behaviour.

One resident, Sarah McCloskey, said this week the demonstration had been held to show residents’ solidarity over the matter.

She added: “We are acting as a community. This last weekend was the final straw.

“We have had eight years of this conduct and we are fed up with it. It is time to stand up and be counted.

“We have contacted the police, councillors and the ASBO people, but nothing has been done about it.”

Another neighbour who attended Monday’s demonstration said people living in the area were at their wits’ end.

“This last weekend was dreadful. Machetes and knives were involved,” she said.

“Every day there are disturbances. It is getting worse now the children are getting older.

“There are only three flats occupied in that block now out of a total of 12 flats – that speaks for itself.

“People have moved out of the block because of their behaviour.

“This family have tried to set doors alight and put excrement through letterboxes.

“We have asked for CCTV cameras to be installed in the area, but the council have told us that they don’t have the money.

“Officials have told us that they cannot evict them, but we are left to suffer.

“We really need protection. We are all law-abiding. All we want is to live a normal life.”

One resident said he regularly experienced intimidation from the family.

“I feel threatened. I plan my time so I am less likely to come across them. I have been threatened on a number of occasions,” he commented.

“My health has been affected as well. My nerves are really bad.”

Another householder said residents were “living in fear” and police had advised them to go about in twos.

She added: “That’s no way to live. It’s time something was done about it.”

Kirkwood admitted committing a breach of the peace while acting with a juvenile.

He shouted, swore, brandished knives, uttered threats of violence, threw bottles and caused alarm and annoyance, both at his home and in the common close there.

Kirkwood has an extensive criminal record which includes breach of the peace, shoplifting, fraud, assault, breach of probation and breach of community service.

Sheriff Douglas Brown deferred sentence on him until July 22 for reports.