Teens hit out at Marshes as store owner says second fight was narrowly avoided yesterday

The Marshes

A large number of local teenagers have hit out at the Marshes Shopping Centre on social media over the past 24 hours for what they deem to be “ageism”.

Following a fight in the centre on Saturday involving up to 40 teenagers, security in the centre having been taking a strict approach when it comes to young people entering the centre.

A number have complained that they have been turned away in recent days while many more have reportedly been asked to leave.

While the fight at the weekend isn’t being condoned, many local teens – the majority of whom are on mid-term break at present – feel they are all being tarred with the one brush for the actions of others.

Management at the Marshes have confirmed they are looking to identify those involved in Saturday’s fight outside Penney’s via CCTV.

Until then a cautious approach appears to be in operation with the centre set to review their policies with their legal teams in light of recent incidents. Manager Harry Traynor has already publicly apologised to anyone inconvenienced by the current strict measures, which are a necessary evil going by recent events.

One store manager in the centre told Talk of the Town last night that there were even a few teenagers planning a second fight yesterday evening – something which, thankfully, never came to pass although there were reports that a small scrap did happen at the Square.

She said: “There was a fight arranged for this evening in the Marshes (on the grape vine) for between 5 & 5:30. The droves of young ones that gathered trying to get in causing the security to focus all attention on them. The bad manners they gave to the security was unreal. No manners at all. It won’t end until a child or someone gets hurt.”

It appears that the actions of a few are spoiling the centre for the majority, with businesses and centre management caught in an unenviable situation.

One local teen at least saw the humerous side to the whole thing. Craig McHugh has put together a video on YouTube giving his reaction to the supposed teenager ban in the Marshes.

Check it out below: