Students wreak havoc on city during Rag Week
A LITANY of public order prosecutions are pending against students of the University of Limerick and visitors to the campus during RAG week, a senior garda has confirmed.
On Tuesday night, a car was overturned, a tree uprooted and windows of houses were broken in College Court, Castletroy. However, gardai have reported few arrests despite residents' outrage on the behaviour of students.
Six people were arrested in Castletroy on Sunday night, one person on Monday night and none were arrested on Tuesday or Wednesday night.
All were released without charge, but a Garda spokesperson said students are likely to be summoned before the courts to face public order offences. "I would safely say there will be a good number of prosecutions for public order," added the Garda.
Meanwhile, a resident on Milford Road in Castletroy has complained that a large rock was thrown through the window of their baby daughter's room in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The father of the girl said he has written to the president of the university, Prof Don Barry, calling for zero tolerance in relation to these incidents.
The incident happened at around 2.30am on Tuesday last and the parents were concerned that the rock or broken glass could have hit their ten-month -old girl.
"The malicious act was unprovoked as we have never given anyone cause for resentment. This group of people (students] do not have the same issues of those in underprivileged areas of Limerick; they have the opportunity to better their lives which is a privilege they are obviously overlooking," said one parent.
A large number of on-the-spot fines for consuming intoxicating liquor in a public place and littering were issued throughout the week, however the exact figure has not been disclosed.
"There has been a lot of tomfoolery, pranks and incidents that went beyond pranks but it didn't cross the line towards threatening and abusive behaviour," the Garda spokesperson commented of RAG week.
Names and addresses of individuals who are believed to have caused criminal damage in the area have also been supplied to gardai at Henry Street station, who are investigating the matter.
Gardai said on-foot and mobile patrols of Castletroy were increased this week, and will remain in place until the end of the week, after RAG concludes on Friday night with the "RAG week wrap-up party."
Resident Ursula Stokes complained that the area looks "like Afghanistan out here at the moment" and was critical of the UL authorities for not stepping in to address the disturbances in estates.
The president of the students' union, Pa O'Brien, was fielding calls from angry residents on Wednesday morning and called to the estates to witness the damage.
"There were some really horrible incidents in Milford Grange and College Court. All the good work of the week has been destroyed by some very irresponsible people.
We are trying to identify people (who caused damage to property] and they will face disciplinary action," said Mr O'Brien.
Prior to the start on RAG week on Monday he said the union "tried to hammer home to people to remember to be responsible and that the point of the week is to raise money for charity. This has been lost on some people," lamented Mr O'Brien.
However, he added that many students from other universities were also present during the week, and the uproar may not necessarily have been caused by UL students.
A mature student at Mary Immaculate College said she was in the city on Tuesday night and her car was pelted with glass bottles".
Jacqueline Mullane, now residing in Askeaton, Co Limerick, said she complained to gardai in two vehicles about the number of people urinating on the street, but said gardai appeared "totally disinterested."
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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