Paddy’s Day mayhem: the aftermath

EXTRA gardaí will be on stand-by this weekend amid fears that the trouble which led to hundreds of arrests during St Patrick’s Day celebrations might spill over.

More than 700 people were arrested for public order offences on Thursday as mass brawls broke out in pubs and on the streets, two teenagers were stabbed and youths on a drunken rampage smashed two dozen windows on a Dublin train.

Accident and emergency departments across the country treated more than 400 people.

The emergency services are preparing for another hectic weekend with publicans expecting a busy day today for Ireland’s crunch rugby clash against Wales and thousands expected to enjoy the Sky Festival in Dublin city centre.

In total, 714 people were arrested for public order offences on St Patrick’s Day, including more than 250 in Dublin.

A further 60 were detained in both Cork and Limerick, more than 50 in Galway, and 22 in Waterford.

The large number of arrests reflected a large garda presence on the streets, gardaí said.

Among the more serious incidents:

Two teenagers are in a serious condition following separate stabbings in north Dublin and Galway.

Seven people were arrested following a brawl in a Limerick city pub.

Two dozen windows were smashed on two DART trains in Dublin.

Gardaí had to break up a fight involving 25 people on another DART service.

Fine Gael social and family affairs spokesman David Stanton said young people were turning to alcohol because of the Government’s failure to provide proper facilities for them.

In the absence of tangible social and sporting outlets for young people, I believe that some turn to alcohol abuse with serious consequences for themselves and their families.

“Reports from around the country have shown that for many people, the only way to enjoy our national day is with alcohol, and plenty of it. This, undoubtedly, contributes to the higher than usual public order offences that are now part and parcel of St Patrick’s Day,” Mr Stanton said.

Dr Mick Loftus, who heads the group Dothain (Enough), which campaigns for sensible drinking, said: “As a society we appear to be going downhill as regards the intake of alcohol. Reports from around the country of public disorder and injuries on this St Patrick’s Day are chilling.”

Despite the violence and drunkenness, Dublin’s Lord Mayor Michael Conaghan said overall it was a very good day in the city. “This year we turned a corner and created a benchmark for the future,” he said.