McAleese criticises drink attitude

PEOPLE have to change their unhealthy attitude to alcohol, President Mary McAleese warned yesterday.

President McAleese said the nation is paying a high price for a culture in which excessive drinking leads to increased violence.

Her remarks came after it emerged that three suspects of a brutal city centre assault told gardaí their memories of the incident were clouded by alcohol consumption.

“More is being spent not just on alcohol but on drugs, and we know the consequences in street crime,” the president said amid the growing public outcry over alcohol abuse and rising late night street violence.

She said Ireland has the highest European consumption of cannabis among 15 to 16 year olds and experienced the highest increase in alcohol consumption within the EU in recent years.

Speaking at at the opening of a garden at the Aislinn treatment centre for teenagers in Kilkenny, she described the connection between fun and alcohol as “sinister, cynical and deceptive”.

Following the latest high-profile incident of alcohol-fuelled street violence, 35-year-old Barry Duggan remains on a life support machine. He was beaten by three men in an apparently senseless attack in the centre of Dublin.

Three suspects in their early twenties, two from the south Dublin suburb of Stillorgan and one from Swords, voluntarily gave statements to gardaí on Monday. It is understood all three told investigators they remembered few details about the incident as they had been on an all-day session after watching Leinster’s European Cup win on Saturday afternoon.

Files have been sent to the DPP.

Mr Duggan, a librarian, remains in intensive care at St James’s Hospital in Dublin.

As the debate continues over the dangers of alcohol, Arts, Sports and Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue came under attack from leading anti-alcohol campaigner Dr Mick Loftus for launching a pub guide earlier this week.

Former coroner Dr Loftus criticised Mr O’Donoghue’s involvement in the Vintners Federation launch. He said that because of his involvement in sport, the Kerry deputy should not be seen to have such close links with the drinks industry.