Landlords targeted in crackdown on antisocial students

Gardaí are planning to track down rogue landlords who are ignoring alcohol-fuelled problems caused by third-level student tenants in Cork.

It was one of several actions outlined at a meeting of Cork City Council Joint Policing Committee yesterday on plans to crack down on antisocial behaviour blighting residential areas around University College Cork (UCC) and Cork Institute of Technology (CIT).

But action must also be taken at a national level to curb the sale of cheap alcohol, gardaí said.

Supt Barry McPolin, who is responsible for policing in the UCC area, said a three-camera garda CCTV system would be installed on the streets around the university before the end of the academic year.

Gardaí would mount extra high-visibility patrols for UCC’s Fresher’s Week while UCC’s students’ union would also mount student patrols, he said.

Dr Michael Byrne, UCC’s head of student health, said landlords would be contacted and students would receive a written warning after the first complaint of a student party at a rented premises.

Last year, UCC’s accommodation office recorded 156 house-calls after house party complaints, with 36 students referred on to the university’s Campus Watch initiative.

UCC students’ union president Eoghan Healy also said all first-year students had been warned about alcohol consumption.

But John O’Rourke, from the ConnaughtAvenue Residents’ Association, said landlords must be part of the solution.

His residents’ association will visit every student house between Donovan’s Rd and Gilabbey St over the coming weeks to meet new students and build links.

Tom Hayes, from the Barrack’s Street neighbourhood watch scheme, expressed disappointment that the new CCTV scheme was taking four years to install.

He called on the authorities to approach supermarkets and off-licences to stop the sale of cheap alcohol and prevent certain alcohol promotions.

Lord Mayor Cllr John Buttimer criticised the absence of landlords from yesterday’s meeting and said large retail giants operating around both colleges have refused requests to scrap cheap alcohol sales.

Landlord Ray Hennessy said afterwards that the vast majority of landlords were responsible and anxious to work with residents to resolve problems.

Chief Supt Mick Finn said gardaí were making progress tackling the problems but landlords were a key part of the solution.

Sinn Féin Cllr Chris O’Leary, who has led legal challenges against the development of off-licences in Cork suburbs, said legislation must be changed to help communities combat this “scourge”.