Limerick councillor hits out at student Christmas Day as a 'thundering disgrace'

THE behaviour and actions of Limerick students on their annual Christmas Day celebration held on Wednesday has been described as a "thundering disgrace."

Fine Gaels Cllr Peter Doyle said he was "most disappointed" with the conduct of some UL students in Castletroy and Limerick city.

"Residents were tormented in Milford Grange with bonfires near their cars and homes.  The conduct of students in Limerick city was awful with many getting sick and urinating in public," he outlined.

Cllr Doyle continued: "We all like people to enjoy themselves but it is not a nice spectacle to see students drunk in the middle of the day. The chairman of a local residents association listed out the problems that occurred this week."

Among the issues brought forward by Cllr Doyle were open drinking in public areas while children going to school and coming from school, destruction of a bus stop, a bonfire in Milford Grange, anti-social parking, general antisocial behaviour, littering and general lack of care for the area they are living in. 

Mr Doyle remarked that cars were parked "everywhere and anywhere" in Castletroy with one case of a student parking on a children’s playground in a housing estate off the Groody Road.

"I now call on the Governing Body of UL to investigate this behaviour and take responsibility for the conduct of their students on and off campus and to curtail this excessive drinking culture that gives rise to anti-social behaviour and which is totally unfair on local residents. This event is also unfair on our gardai and Limerick Council staff that have to clean up all the litter," stated Cllr Doyle.

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"The sooner UL builds more student residences and carparks on site the better for all. Residents in Castletroy have to put up with appalling parking Monday to Friday. One lady advised me she lives opposite a semi-detached house with seven students and seven cars. Two cars park in the driveway and five are then parked everywhere, blocking residents getting out of their homes.

"It is a regular occurrence for bin lorries to be unable to collect rubbish in parts of Briarfield due to this crazy parking. Can students not carpool or come to Limerick in buses?

"UL should employ security company to patrol Castletroy estates on Tuesday and Wednesday and report illegal parking, littering and anti-social behaviour to the relevant authorities."  

Cllr Doyle concluded: "I will again ask Limerick City and County Council to send traffic wardens to estates on the mornings of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during UL college term."

Chair of the Limerick branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland Eamonn O'Rahilly commented:

"The official vintners line is definitely we promote safe drinking and we always have." He said they work in tandem with Diageo and Heineken to promote safe drinking and that customers ID is checked before they enter the hostelries.

"Drinking is going to happen. Let's not be naive here and the fact that we have now two universities in Limerick does promote a student culture. The student culture has always been noted for drinking."

Mr O'Rahilly who runs The Spotted Dog pub in Janesboro added that the Vintners Federation try and promote as much safe drinking as they can.

"There's very little we can do about the people on the public street. if they want to misbehave in the public street, there's really nothing we can do. We can only do what's on our premises."

However, Mr O'Rahilly said there has to be celebrations and they're trying not to impede on people's nights out.

He continued: "We depend on people over 18 to act like adults and if they don't, well, then we bring in the methods that we've put in place, such as security and safe drinking practices, and the basic rule of telling the person go home that they have enough."

University of Limerick, Technological University of the Shannon and Mary Immaculate College were contacted for comment by Limerick Live.

A spokesperson for UL said they "strongly promote responsible community engagement but is aware that there have been instances of off-campus behaviour that have caused concern among our neighbours and the wider community".

"While UL cannot be a responder to off-campus incidents, which are the jurisdiction of An Garda Síochána and other relevant agencies, there are mechanisms within the university student code of conduct for breaches of the code to be dealt with and complaints made to the University about individuals are taken very seriously. UL students play a crucial role in shaping the reputation and atmosphere of our city and indeed the surrounding areas of the campus," outlined the UL statement to Limerick Live.

"Students have been urged to be mindful of their actions and the impact they have on the community around them. Anti-social behaviour not only affects the immediate community but also reflects on the entire student body. Student life within the community should be built on a foundation of respect, responsibility and positive engagement.

"UL will continue to work with our educational colleagues in TUS and MIC, An Garda Siochana and Limerick City and County Council to ensure that the community remains a welcoming and enjoyable place for all its residents."