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Speaking in the Dáil, Independent TD Mick Wallace has claimed that Kerry and Killarney in particular is a “basket case” when it comes to the enforcement of liquor licensing laws.

The Wexford TD said he had met with a garda whistleblower who had been “chewed up and spat out” by the system after making shocking claims about Killarney gardaí, specifically that certain bar owners were “allowed to run pubs with immunity”.

“In May 2016, the whistleblower encountered an after hours street brawl during which the premises continued to serve patrons. After dealing with the brawl, the garda confronted the publican. About a week later he was reprimanded by an inspector for harassing this serial offending publican,” Wallace claimed.

“I do not believe for a second that Killarney is the only place that has a problem with the licensing laws but County Kerry in general does seem to be a basket case when it comes to prosecuting cases in the District Court,” he said.

“The conviction rate for the whole of County Kerry in 2016 was 3%,” he added.

In 2016, there were 26 prosecutions in Kerry alone, but none resulted in convictions. Gardaí have said that the licensing laws are strictly enforced in a fair and responsible manner.

From a local’s perspective, the only time I hear people complaining about an “after hours problem” is at half two in the morning when they can’t find after hours.

On a serious note, alcohol abuse is a major issue in this country and by the time the bars officially close, I’m sure the majority have us have already exceeded our recommended daily dose. In an ideal world, we wouldn’t need laws to tell us when to stop drinking. But try telling that to some young lad who’s after eight pints and five vodka Red Bulls.