True cost of St Patrick's Day violence revealed

Published Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Comments
Toggle font size
Print

Policing student violence in south Belfast on St Patrick's Day cost over £35,000, it has emerged.

The figures were revealed by police, who had been asked for details of their spending by Ulster Unionist peer Lord Laird.

Riot police were called to Carmel Street in the Holylands after drunken youths vandalised a car, before throwing cans and bottles at officers.

A total of 19 people were arrested and two members of the force injured.

Residents' spokesman Ray Farley said: "The money would be better spent on other things.

"It is an area where there's not a lot of respect for the environment and people there do what they want to do."

Police bearing shields and wearing helmets confronted the troublemakers and there were later enhanced patrols in the area.

Young people had been drinking from early in the day and house parties later spilled onto the streets.

'Disgraceful'

The costs totaled £49,242 for St Patrick's Day including the cost of policing the concert and parade, but £35,611 was for the Holyland trouble.

Mr Farley said people were constantly drinking beer and listening to loud music with minor acts of vandalism.

"There are a lot of nice houses in the area... unfortunately it is skewed in the direction of very short term tenancies which have no real stake in the area," he added.

DUP Policing Board member Jimmy Spratt said people would be appalled to learn how much money had been spent.

"At a time when the police budget is extremely pressed it is disgraceful that this amount of resources should be consumed trying to prevent a drunken mob from destroying this part of south Belfast."

© Press Association
Comments Comments
0 Comments
No comments. Be the first to comment.
POST A COMMENT:
Name:  
Email address*:    
Location:  
Validation:
House Rules:  
Your Comment:  
[All comments are moderated and will not appear immediately. Your name, location and comment will be displayed on this page if your post passes moderation.]