Killarney partiers accused of 'showing two fingers' to those who made sacrifices during Covid

Main St in Killarney, where crowds gathered last night, resulting in the town's mayor calling for those involved to "publicly apologise"

The mayor of Killarney has condemned night time scenes in the town centre last night, saying they are disgraceful.

On Saturday boisterous scenes involving a crowd of people drinking and singing on the street and not observing social distance were captured on video on Main Street.

Some men are seen jumping on the top of a telephone box housing the town centre defibrillator in the video shot.

Partying men and women are seen drinking on both sides of the street cheering at passing cars from crowded footpaths.

At one point in the widely shared video one man strips to his underpants as the audience cheers.

It is the latest such footage in recent weeks of crowded and unruly street scenes in Killarney which has shocked locals.

Dozens of young adults are crowding outside pubs and in the vicinity of popular premises not observing any kind of social distance.

A screenshot from a viral video showing the scenes in Killarney last night (August 29, 2020). Picture: Screenshot via Facebook

The mayor, Cllr Brendan Cronin, this morning described such scenes as disgraceful and has asked gardaí to take a firmer approach.

“In a time when we cannot go to watch a football match, when weddings are being postponed along with other family occasions being put on hold, the behaviour seen in our town last night was nothing short of showing two fingers to all those who have put in huge time and effort to make Killarney safe,” he said.

Business owners and staff have gone above and beyond to protect customers and visitors to Killarney, he said.

Cllr Cronin said he sympathises with Killarney first responders voluntary group for the disrespect shown to the community defibrillator on Main Street.

Those that decided to use the defibrillator box as their 'stage' last night need to publicly apologise for this lack of respect shown.

"I am calling on An Garda Siochána to step up their efforts to ensure that a similar large gather like this does not happen again,” he said in a statement this morning.

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland tweeted: “We all have a duty to behave responsibly.

“Scenes last night in Killarney hugely upsetting for everyone following the guidelines and for publicans desperate to open.”

The body today reiterated its call for "the full force of the law" to be applied to any pub found breaching guidelines.

A spokesperson for the VFI said: "While the exact nature of what occurred prior to the incidents that appeared on social media remains unclear, the guidelines for restaurants and pubs serving food state that alcohol can only be served along with a €9 meal and guests can only remain on the premises for 105 minutes.

"The VFI supports the introduction of new legislation that will give Gardaí the powers to close down businesses found to be in breach of the guidelines.

"According to Garda statements, the vast majority of pubs serving food are fully adhering to the guidelines."

A Twitter page that represents pubs in Co. Kerry posted: “Disgusted for all law-abiding publicans to see scenes like this in Killarney last night, especially while the majority of pubs are still shut down.

“Close down the business that sold them the takeaway pints immediately and enforce the new garda laws.”

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce said it is very disappointed and upset by the group of people who "blatantly ignored" social distancing requirements.

Independent Kerry councillor Jackie Healy-Rae said it was one of multiple incidents in the town.

“Killarney is a very busy spot and people have been left very upset by the video,” he said.

“We have teachers and students going back to school this week and some teachers and parents are uneasy about returning to school but they are going back as they have to.

“To see that type of behaviour is not acceptable.

“People are angry and it makes Killarney look bad. This is not the type of behaviour we want here.”

The Garda press office said in a statement it was aware of video material circulating but cannot comment on it.

The press office said: “An Garda Síochána is aware of video circulating on social media highlighting the activities of a crowd gathered on a street in Killarney last night, Saturday 29 August 2020.

"An Garda Síochána does not comment on an extract of audio/ video footage, the timeline and context of which cannot be determined,” the statement said.

Gardaí had resources on patrol in the Killarney District with local gardaí reporting a large number of people socialising in Killarney over the evening, the spokesman said.

“An Garda Síochána in Killarney were involved in the ongoing investigation of a Fatal Road Traffic Collision and responded to a number of further incidents including the serious investigation into the unexplained death of a male,” it continued.

Social Distancing and other similar Public Health Guidelines are not Penal Provisions under the Health Act 1947, the statement also said.

“An Garda Síochána continues to respond to reports of gatherings and engage with communities with a view to implementing the guidelines issued by the Government and HSE in order to minimise the impact of COVID-19 on our community as a whole.

"In supporting the COVID-19 public health guidelines, An Garda Síochána, when responding to incidents, has adopted a graduated policing response based on its tradition of policing by consent. This response is based on Garda members engage, educate, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce.

"The COVID-19 Pandemic remains a public health crisis and An Garda Síochána continues to remind all citizens, of their personal responsibility, to comply with Public Health Guidelines and Regulations in order to continue to save lives,” the statement from the Garda Press Office said.