Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
STOP THIS HOLY ROW
Four arrests as Health Minister slams ‘deplorable’ behaviour of partying students
THE Health Minister yesterday slammed the “deplorable” antics of some students partying on the streets of the Holyland.
It follows crazy scenes in South Belfast as young people returned to university in the midst of the global pandemic. A worried Robin Swann warned: “We are on a knife edge.”
Four people have been arrested in connection with the disorder.
STUDENTS appeared to flout Covid-19 distancing rules in their hundreds as police patrolled Belfast’s Holyland on Tuesday night.
Many of the young people spoken to by the Daily Mirror said they had received little or no advice about their return to student accommodation despite new coronavirus rules coming into force this week.
Those living in the city are not allowed to mix households unless in a bubble with one other home, and no more than six people from two households can meet outside.
Our reporter walked the streets of the Holyland on Tuesday evening with South Belfast ML A Paula Bradshaw.
She has called for specific guidance to ensure students and their landlords feel the consequences of rules being broken.
The Alliance politicians aid: “Classes haven’t started and Freshers hasn’t started and the only thing that they are doing is drinking.
“Yesterday morning at 11.30am they were piling out of the off-licence with big crates of beer and they are just drinking morning to night.”
So far this week, police said they have arrested four people in the Holyland area on suspicion of a number of offences.
A 20-year -old male has been
There is just no social distancing, they’re very drunk and have no sense MLA PAULA BRADSHAW BELFAST TUESDAY
charged with disorderly behaviour in the area on Tuesday night and into the early hours yesterday.
Just after 12.35pm on Tuesday, police arrested a male, aged 18, on suspicion of a number of offences following an incident in the Jerusalem Street area.
Four prohibition notices were issued at properties hosting parties and two community resolution notices were given for indecent behaviour on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Universities are not due back until next week, yet hundreds – possibly even thousands – of young people have gathered along Agincourt Avenue and the surrounding area this week as an apparent pre-term celebration.
Ms Bradshaw explained the streets have been getting busier every night.
She added: “We know every year we are going to have anti-social and inconsiderate behaviour but this year there is an added difficulty because we have localised measures – we have got this huge pandemic that has deadly consequences.
“There is the rule of law but there is also the spirit of the law.
“Nobody is really understanding the
wider problem. Some of the parties have moved out on to the pavement but there is no social distancing – they are very drunk and have no sense.”
Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick explained police have been “consistent in our warnings to young people who have moved to the Holyland area and those who are visiting”.
He said: “Everyone has a responsibility to adhere to the Health Protection Regulations to protect themselves and others from Covid-19.
“Since September 13, police have responded to 51 calls for service in the Holyland area.
“We are conducting patrols, with our partners, and where we see
breach es of th e regulations or antisocial or criminal behaviour we will take action.
“We will continue to dedicate substantial resources to policing this area throughout the coming weeks and will robustly address all incidents of antisocial or criminal activity.”
Alliance health spokeswoman Ms Bradshaw called on Health Minister Robin Swann to publish scientific advice concerning students’ return to university accommodation in the city.
She added: “Some of these houses have up to eight or nine bedrooms in them.
“[Officials] haven’t said students shouldn’t go home at the weekend, so
that’s potentially eight or nine people going back to Newr y, Armagh , Dungannon – all across the country – potentially bringing the virus to those communities.
“Universities have told students they will not have full-time classes and will have lessons online.
“I really don’t think people need to be living here full-time at the minute – they could have come back in increments.
“There should be specific guidance just for this area. We have young families, people from the Roma community – many of them working in factories – universities and elderly people. I think there should be guid
ance specifically for HMO [houses in mutiple occupation] owners so if their tenants break the law then there should be consequences for the tenants and also the licensees.”
Alliance’s Mickey Murray said around 86% of homes in the Holyland are officially registered as HMOS but as many as 5% may not be registered.
Just across the road from were our reporter spoke to Ms Bradshaw, young people crowded around a 2m social distancing sign as they queued around the block outside an off-licence.
Others sat in front yards blasting music and drinking in groups.
Streams of bodies entered and left houses, while some danced on walls
and sang at the top of their voices. Some students were ushered out of one Agincourt Avenue house as police took their details at the door, while lads in football tops were questioned by officers around the corner.
Council officers stopped some drinking on the streets and asked them to empty their bottles – but many more escaped untackled.
Some students told our reporter they felt social distancing in the area was “impossible”.
They said if they can meet friends in bars and have been encouraged
to eat out and go to cinemas, why shouldn’t they meet on streets?
Most admitted they are worried about coronavirus and bringing it home to their families but thought b eing outside lowered th eir chances of getting it.
One 18-year-old added: “We haven’t been given enough guidance. We have been told to stay within six people but we can go to the pub and meet everyone.
“We are getting this bad rep even though everyone is staying in their groups and there are just
people walking about. I feel like we are being made out to be bad and are getting fines and all – but we don’t know what to do.”
Botanic SDLP Councillor Gary Mckeown said he empathises with the young people and understands how frustrating it must be for them.
But he added: “We are in the midst of a pandemic. This isn’t the time for big parties.
“People gathering in large numbers in this part of South Belfast may think they are invincible but in reality they are not only putting themselves and those around them at risk.”
MP for South Belfast Claire Hanna has urged students to show regard for
their community. The SDLP politician said: “The vast majority of young people can enjoy t h e ms e l v e s responsibly but those who engaged in the anti-social behaviour demonstrated an astounding lack of judgment.
“This kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable.”
A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: “Our Safer Neighbourhood and Alcohol Enforcement Officers are working in the area.
“Our Night Time Noise Team will resume full service from Thursday and be available seven days a week, 8pm-4am.”