Students call for deferral of ASBO decision

Groups opposed to Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) are calling for a decision to be deferred until after the summer.

The plan for the introduction of ASBOs is contained in changes to the Criminal Justice Bill, proposed by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.

The Union of Students in Ireland claims the ASBOs have failed in Britain, and there is no guarantee things will be different here.

Deputy President of the group Rory Hearne said the Minister for Justice should re-examine the cause of the problems and behaviours these measures are designed to prevent: “This is behaviour that we are saying isn’t criminal, and again it comes back to the lack of facilities that are there for young people - non-alcoholic facilities.

“We’ve had huge development of estates in Ireland but there are no facilities in them,” he added.