Earlier closing hours help reduce public order offences in Tralee

EARLIER closing of pubs and nightclubs in Tralee has led to a 10% reduction in trouble and violence on the streets of the town, senior gardaí claimed at the weekend.

Last year, Tralee-based Superintendent Pat Sullivan made a strong case at the local court for a scaling back in pub and nightclub opening hours. Judge James O’Connor ordered that opening hours be brought back to 2am from 2.30am.

Statistics for the first nine months of this year show there were 725 public order offences committed in Tralee compared with 805 for the same period last year.

Supt Sullivan said he attributed the 80 fewer public order offences directly to earlier closing. “The reduction in crime is a positive development.”

Tralee has witnessed serious public disorder problems, leading to calls from businesses, local politicians and other concerned people for firm action to tackle thuggery and assaults on the streets. Two years ago, Tralee town councillors Tommy Foley and Miriam McGillycuddy called for shorter pub opening hours, arguing that such a move would curb late night violence, anti-social behaviour and attacks.

Mr Foley has now called for further cutbacks in opening times and said he would be campaigning for a closing time of 1am for all licensed premises. He said the statistics were proof that a scaling back in opening times was a means of tackling public order offences and a further scaling back would improve the situation more.

However, Tralee Vintners’ chairman Danny Leane said pubs and nightclubs were being unfairly scapegoated for this country’s problems with alcohol. Referring to a report by the Health Research Board which showed that the number of alcohol-related deaths doubled between 1995 and 2004, he said the traditional pub culture could not be blamed for that. Instead, he pointed to the rise in alcohol consumption in people’s homes.

He claimed the uncontrolled consumption of alcohol was fuelling anti-social behaviour problems. He also said the abolition of the Groceries Order for alcohol sales last year paved the way for the unregulated sale of alcohol in supermarkets and other off-licensed premises.

“More people are abusing alcohol in their homes, because they can buy it freely and cheaply in these venues. Vintners believe that when people consume alcohol in pubs they do so in a controlled and regulated environment.”