My neighbor engages in anti-social behavior. How do I get a court order in Ireland?

What the Law Says

Under Part 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, the District Court may grant an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) where a person has engaged in conduct that caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household. The order prohibits specific behaviours (e.g., shouting, intimidation, property damage) for up to five years. Crucially, only An Garda Síochána or a local authority (under s. 129 of the Act) may apply to the court — private individuals cannot initiate ASBO proceedings directly. The burden of proof is on the applicant to show, on the balance of probabilities, that the behaviour occurred and meets the statutory threshold.

Practical Steps

First, document all incidents thoroughly — dates, times, descriptions, witnesses, photos, or audio/video (where lawful). Report the behaviour formally to your local Garda station and your local authority’s Environmental Health or Community Safety Officer. If the Gardaí or council decide to proceed, they will investigate, issue a written warning (s. 130), and — if behaviour persists — prepare evidence for a District Court application. You may be called as a witness. Note: Mediation via the Legal Aid Board’s Civil Mediation Service or local community mediation services (e.g., Conflict Resolution Network Ireland) is strongly encouraged before formal action and may resolve matters faster and at lower cost. If criminal charges (e.g., under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 or Public Order Act 1994) are appropriate, Gardaí may pursue those separately.

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