Holyland St Pat's 'quietest since 08'

Published Monday, 19 March 2012
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University officials have welcomed the "quietest St Patrick's Day period in the Holyland since 2008", after a largely peaceful weekend in the heavily-populated student area.

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However they have reassured south Belfast residents that efforts to prevent anti-social behaviour will continue over the next few days.

A multi-agency task force comprising police, City Council and university representatives has been in place since Thursday night to keep the calm.

One 19-year-old man was arrested over the weekend for class A drugs offences, disorderly behaviour, resisting police and assault on police.

He was expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates' Court on Monday.

There was a further arrest on a money warrant, while one person was dealt with by discretionary disposal for disorderly behaviour and two reported for disorderly behaviour.

The PSNI said it was "content" with the operation, adding: "Compared with previous years the levels of anti-social behaviour and general disruption to the Holylands area were greatly reduced."

With fewer houses occupied in the Holyland, those coming into the area looking for parties and places to congregate were disappointed and did not hang around.

Queen’s University Belfast

In March 2009, violence erupted in the area with police pelted with bottles and fireworks.

The situation has improved in recent years, but residents expressed concern for the weekend after eight arrests were made on Thursday night for a range of offences.

Queen's University said it has so far received one report from police - a young man will appear before its disciplinary panel before Easter.

The university, which gave its students a reading day on Friday, said it believes the majority of them took the chance to go home for a long weekend.

"It appears that most of the Queen's contingent have taken advantage of the reading day," a statement said, "and listened to our advice to go home for the holiday weekend.

"This was reinforced by news that less than 40 Northern Ireland students had remained in Belfast at our main accommodation site, the Elms Village.

"Thankfully, concerns about the weekend turning into a four-day party have not materialised, but we must not be complacent over the next day or two.

"I hope that the rest of the weekend remains calm and we will continue to work with all the stakeholders to ensure that remains the case."

Ulster University, which produced a special video message warning students to behave, said it "remains committed" to tackling tensions in the Holyland area.

"The fact that we had no repeat of the disorder in 2009 is no cause for celebration," a statement said.

"The residents of the Holylands have to endure a lot of unacceptable behaviour from a minority of students and hangers-on throughout the year - not just on St Patrick's Day.

"We remain committed to working with the residents, landlords and other partners and local political representatives to minimise the potential for anti-social behaviour there.

"The University will keep its promise to suspend immediately and then expel those who are found guilty at any time of the year of serious anti-social behaviour."

© UTV News
Comments Comments
2 Comments
Niall in Derry wrote (426 days ago):
Purpose built housing is available such as Elms but the costs are too high. The students are best suited where they are and if I did not like an area I would leave.
Vic in Belfast (holyland) wrote (426 days ago):
In 2008 St Patricks day was on a Monday, the students were at home for the weekend not all would return on the bankholliday. This year it fell on a Saturday all the students are off home to mummy and daddy, wait for a Tuesday Wednesday or a Thursday the traditional days for mayhem. Some of the students had a early St Patricks day celebration on Thursday, garden parties but not a lot thank God.
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