Councillors call for hike in illegal drinking fines

PEOPLE caught drinking illegally on Cork’s streets could face on-the-spot fines of up to €150.

Cork city council is getting legal advice on the limit of fines it can impose as part of plans to amend bye laws introduced in 2001 prohibiting the consumption of alcohol in public places.

Councillors were asked on Monday night to amend the laws and double the fine from £25 to £50 (€63).

But a number of councillors called for the penalty to be upped to €150.

A decision was deferred and a report is due before council within two weeks.

City manager Joe Gavin said he would have to get legal advice before he could propose increasing the fine.

“I don’t think a fine of €50 or €150 would make any difference. It is a cultural situation,” he said.

Fianna Fáil’s Terry Shannon said increases would be welcomed but enforcement was crucial. “A strong message needs to go out that drinking in public will not be tolerated,” he said.

Labour’s Michael O’Connell said a hike would be a good idea but he said policing was the problem. He also blamed parents.

Sinn Féin’s Jonathon O’Brien said he wanted a report on how the existing bye law is working and on the number of prosecutions brought under these laws before making a decision.