JUDGE CONCERNED OVER USE OF FLARES AT UNOFFICIAL STUDENT RAG WEEK

Date Published: 25-Sep-2012

A judge has expressed concern that the phenomena of flares being set off by students during this year’s unofficial Rag Week in Galway could escalate in the future, resulting in serious injury to somebody.

Judge Mary Fahy made the comment at Galway District Court where an NUIG science student made a 300 euro donation to charity for breaching the peace during Rag Week celebrations on February 23 last.

Judge Fahy heard how 19 year old Thomas Hickey, a first-year science student at NUIG threw a flare into a large crowd of students who had congregated in Eyre Square in the early hours of February 23 last, during an unofficial Rag Week, organised by a splinter group of third level students.

Hickey, a native of Broadford, Co. Kildare was 18 at the time of this incident.

He pleaded guilty to breaching the peace on the occasion while a more serious charge of having an explosive device - the flare- was withdrawn by the DPP provided the facts surrounding the incident were outlined in court.

Hickey said the flare was thrown by someone else first and fell on the ground near him before he picked it up and threw it back into the crowd.

Judge Fahy said the use of flares in situations like this was a new phenomena which she would have serious concerns about.

Hearing Hickey had no previous convictions and had co-operated with Gardai, she decided not to record a conviction against him for breaching the peace on condition he make a €300 donation to the RNLI.