Police provided advice at West End gathering

PEOPLE celebrating St Patrick’s Day at Magdalen Green avoided being fined as police revealed they instead “offered advice” to those who were there on Wednesday evening.

Eyewitnesses reported as many as 200 revellers gathered at the West End beauty spot and were drinking openly and socialising without observing the legally required social distancing regulations.

Residents had made calls to the police reporting those who had brought barbecues and alcohol.

Yesterday morning empty bottles and cans, as well as general rubbish, had been left strewn around Magdalen Green.

Finlay Wilson, Dundee’s kilted yoga instructor, who lives nearby, said: “When I went to walk my dog on the green on Thursday morning, as I do every day, we had to pick our way through loads of smashed glass trampled into the grass.

“I have several issues with this. Apart from the clear breach of Covid restrictions, I don’t understand why they had to leave so much rubbish behind in what is a public park used by many people, including young families.

“This is a green space that allows many people who obey the Covid restrictions to get outside in the nice weather and enjoy using the area for recreation and exercise.

“Now those people are having to avoid shards of glass from dozens of broken bottles that is embedded in the grass.

“I also hold yoga sessions there and before my next session on Saturday, when people will be practising yoga in their bare feet, I will need to do a full sweep of the area and make sure it is glass-free.

“What part of leaving dozens of black bags of rubbish piled up beside the bins is clearing up behind themselves?”

Mr Wilson said he also had concerns that people had travelled from outside Dundee. He said: “Among the rubbish there were ticket stubs lying around that clearly showed some people had travelled from other places to take part.”

Another local who lives close to Magdalen Green, who did not want to be named, said: “Police arrived at about 5.45pm but it was just one van.

“Two officers spoke to several groups of people, but I didn’t see anyone move on after being spoken to, so either the police didn’t say all that much or they were being ignored.

“There looked to be a barbecue smoking as well and some of them were playing a bit of football.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Around 5.30pm on Wednesday March 17 police received a report of groups gathering at Magdalen Green in Dundee.

“Officers attended and engaged with members of the public, providing suitable advice.

“A number of those involved dispersed and regular patrols were carried out in the area.”