Crackdown on student drinking festival a success
There were just four arrests during the so-called Christmas Day event in Bishopstown last Thursday — compared to 24 during last year’s event.
And gardaí in the area received 17 calls from the public about student-related behaviour, compared to almost 90 last year.
Superintendent Charlie Barry, who led the crackdown, thanked local publicans, off-licence owners and the students at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) for their cooperation.
“The students took into account the effect their behaviour has had on the people of Bishopstown in recent years. I think everyone involved displayed a responsible attitude this year and I would hope that this level of cooperation would continue,” he said.
The CIT Christmas Day event began several years ago as a charity event — taking place on the last Thursday in November.
It attracted students from UCC and buses were organised to bring students from ITs in Waterford, Athlone, Limerick and from the University of Limerick.
However, the charity element was effectively “hijacked” and it descended into a day-long drinking binge. CIT authorities disassociated themselves from it in 2007 but the drinking festival continued.
Residents said they felt like prisoners in their own homes as students began drinking from 11am.
Gardaí made 24 arrests for drunkenness and public order offences during last year’s event, and there were several minor road traffic accidents as drunken students staggered into traffic.
The issue came to a head last October when publican Kieran Horgan of The Bishopstown Bar, which was the main focus of the Christmas Day “festivities”, faced objections to the renewal of his liquor licence.
But gardaí and the Bishopstown Community Association withdrew their objections when Mr Horgan swore at Cork District Court not to facilitate this year’s event.
Extra patrols were mounted in the Bishopstown area last Thursday but the crackdown appears to have worked.
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