Results for gardaí as 11 arrests made on Junior Cert night

GARDAÍ arrested 11 teenagers on the streets of Killarney last Wednesday night following an undercover operation targetting underage drinking.

Hundreds of youths gathered in the town to celebrate their Junior Cert results on results night in what has developed annually into a noisy and – in certain cases – drink-fuelled tradition but this year there was a marked difference in atmosphere as gardaí tackled problem areas.

It resulted in 11 arrests between 9pm and 1am, all for alcohol consumption, with the youngest arrested just 15-years old.

Leading the operation, Sergeant-in- Charge at Killarney Garda Station, Dermot O’Connell, said gardaí had actively prevented youths from congregating and consuming alcohol in areas that have traditionally been problematic.

“These included town centre car parks, green areas near schools and the national park,” Sergeant O’Connell revealed.

“Another aim was to identify premises – including off licences and convenience stores – that may have been selling alcohol to underage persons. In this respect we found that alcohol wasn’t on sale anywhere in Killarney.

“In the past there has been a lot of drunkenness on such nights but, thanks to the operation, it was not like that, we did not have to pick drunken teenagers up off the street,” he added.

Sergeant O’Connell confirmed that gardaí were now investigating two lines of enquiry regarding how the alcohol was sourced.

“We don’t want to spoil the party but we have to enforce the law, it’s as simple as that,” Supt Flor Murphy said this week but warned that similar operations will continue beyond results evening.

Those arrested will now proceed through the Garda Diversion Programme. There were no problems reported at two official underage discos organised in the town on the night.