Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RESIDENT ‘FORCED OUT’ BY PARTYING STUDENTS
A HOLYLANDS resident was forced out of his house by loud music and partying on two nights this week, he has claimed.
Students living in the South Belfast area are on Easter break and instead of heading home the local said some told him they stayed “to do assignments”.
But Michael – who asked us not to share his second name – described how they are partying loudly outside, while video footage showed a large crowd gathered on Tuesday.
It is understood the street parties started after police removed several hundred from Botanic Park.
Footage shared with us on Monday also showed students throwing beer from windows for those below to catch.
Michael, 47, told the Mirror: “I had to leave my home because of noise.
“This is what we were worried about– a police presence on the run up to St Patrick’s Day and Freshers’ Week and then nothing.
“They [the students] were meant to finish last week but the couple I spoke to said they were doing assignments.
“They’re not doing assignments – they’ve just come up for a party. You’ve got the police thinking of prosecuting people for going on a march on Sunday for Noah – and you go and drive through there, you’ve got on-street drinking and the landlords are showing crowds of people round houses.
“One of the houses had 12 or 13 people outside – how is that allowed?
“We are just forgotten now. We are actually dreading September when they relax [restrictions], the pubs are open and it’s going to be mayhem up here.”
And he blasted officers for not dealing with “abuse” he claims residents face.
Michael added: “The police need to get their priorities right.
“You’ve got these students coming up from where ever, doing what they want to do and getting away with it. One woman this morning got sexual innuendo thrown at her.
“Something needs to be done – it can’t go on.”
Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick said:
“Just after 7.20pm on Monday, police received the first of a number of reports about a party ongoing outside a property in Cairo Street.
“Police attended the area at approximately 8.20pm when officers became available to respond.
“On arrival, a number of groups of young people were in the process of leaving the area.”
They issued seven Covid fines and two prohibition notices.
Chief Insp Kirkpatrick added: “Shortly after midnight, officers attended a property at Colenso Parade following reports of a party.
“Seven COV 4 tickets and 4 COV 2 tickets were issued to persons at the property before moving them on.
“Regular patrols continued in the area throughout the night and local officers will now be making follow-up enquiries.”
Belfast City Council has been contacted for comment.
Man ‘had to leave home’ amid chaos
Police think of pulling people over a march for Noah and you’ve this MICHAEL HOLYLANDS YESTERDAY