Gardaí adopt ‘zero tolerance’ for Rag Week

Date Published: 24-Feb-2011

BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM

Gardaí have warned students there will be a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to public order offences during NUIG Rag Week.

They will also be carrying out high visibility patrols and strictly enforcing the Galway City bye-law which bans drinking in public places.

However, there are no plans yet for the Garda Mobile Command Centre to be called in next week, which had been stationed in Galway for Rag Week last year.

Meanwhile, three off licences near the university have approached Gardaí with a proposal to delay the sale of alcohol until after 12.30pm.

Superintendent Marie Skehill at Mill Street told the Galway City Tribune: “We want people to go out and enjoy themselves, but any breaches of the Public Order Act or bye-laws will not be tolerated. We have been speaking with college authorities and the Students Union and would hope the event will pass without trouble.

“It will be zero tolerance. We’ll be out in the same force as previous years patrolling the usual areas. We want people to enjoy themselves responsibly,” said Supt Skehill.

She also praised a number of off-licence owners in the Newcastle area who had taken the initiative to delay selling alcohol until after 12.30pm all week.

Last year, Gardaí spent almost €10,000 per day on reinforcements to combat anti-social behaviour during NUIG Rag Week, as well as stationing a Mobile Command Centre – with high-tech surveillance and communications equipment – at the Spanish Arch and Eyre Square.

A wave of anti-social behaviour in 2009 resulted in Gardaí considering putting the Riot Squad on standby, with more than 40 arrests and the Emergency Department at UHG being inundated with drink-related injuries.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.