War on beach bums
Call for Garda to crack down over drinking and antisocial behaviour hell
GARDAI have been urged to crack down on public drinking at beaches around the country.
As the warm weather continues, calls for better enforcement of by-laws were made following complaints that the beauty spots were overrun by drunk teenagers over the long weekend.
Dublin Cllr Brian Mcdonagh claimed: “Alcohol is the common denominator here. We’ve been flagging this for years.
“Since Covid, our beaches became more popular than they’ve been since the 1980s.
“Unfortunately, what was witnessed was entirely predictable as I’m aware of a number of issues with antisocial behaviour on beaches recently.
“While by-laws are in place, we just don’t have adequate enforcement on the ground. I know the gardai are stretched we really need proper policing when you have thousands of people on our beaches.
“It has worked before. If people who want to spend the day drinking, [they should] know that they will get their booze seized.
“They are then far less likely to bring
it and this reduces the likelihood of fights. It really is that simple.
“As well as antisocial behaviour, there are other serious problems, including poor parking and litter.
“Poor parking is causing serious access problems for emergency services and residents. Councils spend thoubut sands of hard-working taxpayers’ money on cleaning beaches and we have lots of dedicated volunteers.”
Cllr Mcdonagh was speaking after video footage emerged of a public order incident on Burrow Beach in Sutton, Co Dublin. Gardai are also investigating after a man in his 20s was stabbed on Ballybunion beach in Kerry last Saturday.
He was treated University Hospital Kerry for non life-threatening injuries.
Meanwhile, the top temperatures of 25C today and on Friday could be the warmest days this week thanks in part to an Iberian plume of warm air.
But a weather front called Storm Oscar that is coming from Spain and Portugal could also bring rain and thunderstorms. Today will see temperatures of “25C generally” while highs of 24C are expected tomorrow.