LACK OF GARDA RESOURCES HAMPERING STREET DRINKING PREVENTION

Date Published: 12-May-2009

Gardaí do not have the resources to arrest illegal drinkers at city hot spots when large crowds gather.At a meeting of the city's joint policing commitee this week, Superintendent Tom Curley told members that the most efficient means of dealing with street drinkers at areas such as the Spanish Arch was to confiscate drink and ask people to move on.SuperIntendent Curley told the meeting, that arresting people means taking Gardaí off the streets while the arrests are processed.Speaking after the meeting, Joint policing committee member and Mayor of Galway, Padraig Conneely says as long as Garda resources are restricted, the problem of drinking at city hot spots will persist.