Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Police clamp down on St Patrick’s Day revellers
Hundreds cleared out as cops close park early
POLICE cleared hundreds of young people out of one of Belfast’s busiest parks in an effort to keep Covid restrictions in place for what was a largely trouble-free St Patrick’s Day.
As officers patrolled streets in student areas of South Belfast council officers, university staff and volunteers were also out in force.
And PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd warned officers would take “robust action” against those flouting the rules.
Botanic Gardens was forced to close early with the top cop saying there were a “larger number of small gatherings” in the park. PSNI officers are reported to have formed a line and walked across the park, ushering people towards the exits, following an announcement the park was being closed to ensure coronavirus regulations are being followed.
ACC Todd added: “Police engaged with those present and, by 5.25pm, the park was largely clear.
A spokesperson for Belfast City Council said: “Botanic Gardens closed slightly earlier than planned on the advice of the PSNI, due to large amounts of people gathered within the site.”
Paddy’s Day in the Holyland got off to a worrying start when a fight broke out in the area in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The PSNI said they
“received a report at around 2.30am this morning (Wednesday, March 17) of youths fighting in the street in the Agincourt Avenue area of South Belfast”.
They added: “Police attended and crowds subsequently dispersed. Enquiries are ongoing.”
Despite the patrols in place last night, Holyland resident Michael, said he would be leaving the area to get some sleep.
He told the Mirror: “I have had to relocate, Fitzroy has been bad this year.
“The last 12 months I have hardly stayed in my flat because of the noise, the parties and the disruption.”
Michael, who asked us not to share his
I have hardly stayed in my flat because of the noise, the parties, the disruption MICHAEL HOLYLAND RESIDENT
surname, says he has lived in the area for 13 years and that while this year has “not been worse” than previous years “it’s been bad”.
He added: “I love the area but you just can’t get any sleep.
“It’s just the constant noise at night it’s certain houses, the same houses every year – you follow up and nothing is getting done.”
SDLP Botanic councillor Gary Mckeown welcomed the PSNI’S heavy presence on the ground .
After hundreds were ushered from Botanic Park by officers, he said: “I saw an exodus of people back into the Holyland. I welcome the fact there is a heavy
presence on the ground.
Currently the situation appears to be relatively calm and relatively quiet.
“But clearly, if that [removing people from Botanic] is displacing issues to elsewhere it’s important to keep on top of that, so if there are signs of large gatherings in parks or elsewhere, attention is being paid to that to try to keep a lid on it.”
Earlier in the day Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw raised concerns that “as the day goes on people might come out and sit in front of houses which escalate into parties”. The South Belfast politician added: “I hope people will be very mindful that we are still in the middle of a pandemic and that they have to abide by the Covid regulations.” Meanwhile Asst Chief Constable Todd said yesterday that people had also been turned away from beauty spots across NI but that most had heeded public health advice.
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