Publicans join with gardaí to tackle street violence

PUBLICANS are joining forces to tackle street violence amid fears the problem is spiralling out of control.

Bar owners in Killarney, Co Kerry, are linking up with gardaí to tackle late night violence, and Mayo vintners are establishing a community watch scheme.

Statistics show there were more than 1,300 public order offences and 120 assaults in Killarney between February and December 2002. Around 20 of these assaults were classed as serious.

“The idea behind the project is to identify the problems and to try to create solutions,” said Killarney VFI chairman Paudie O Callaghan. “We have to stress that Killarney doesn’t have a monopoly on these problems but we are taking the initiative to do something about them.”

According to Garda Inspector Michael Donovan, Killarney has serious alcohol abuse problems.

“It’s a major difficulty, and apart from the associated public order problems, there is also domestic violence and a whole range of other connected offences,” he said.

Vintners warned underage drinkers who use false ID the offence will be reported to gardaí.

Meanwhile, publicans in Mayo are to establish a community alert scheme after a Swinford pub was damaged at the weekend. Paddy O’Neill, 72, and his wife, Bridie, 69, were subjected to a night of terror when their pub was wrecked. The couple face a €3,000 bill to repair the damage.

Two plate glass windows and dozens of drinking glasses were smashed after a group of English-based Travellers allegedly went on the rampage.

Mayo vintners confirmed they are forming a community watch scheme.

“We are going to establish a system whereby publicans will notify each other when groups of Travellers are on the way,” Mayo Vintners Association spokesperson Chris Lavelle said.

“It’s the only way we can deal with this sort of situation. We cannot allow another publican to suffer like poor Paddy O’Neill did last Sunday night. I visited that pub on Monday and I was shocked by what I saw,” Mr Lavelle said.