News
Under age drinking parties on the rise
AFTERMATH: A Killarney business owner was met with these scenes on Monday morning.
EXCLUSIVE
By Sean Moriarty
There are concerns in the town that the lack of events and social outlets for young people is leading to an increase in illegal drink and drug parties in secluded areas throughout the town.
A local businessman discovered the remains of one illegal party near his town centre premises on Monday morning.
He and his staff spent four hours cleaning up empty beer cans, spirit bottles, cigarette papers and other litter after what he suspects was a large group gathering near a town centre laneway over the weekend.
The businessman did not want to be named as he is worried that the illegal parties could have a negative effect on his trade as people could be afraid to visit his premises as a result of the litter left there – especially in a time when people are extra cautious about personal hygiene.
“Parents need to know where their teenagers are going once they are dropped into the town centre at night,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. “Shopkeepers need to be vigilant too. They are buying the drink in local shops and taking with them some empty coffee cups from the coffee stand – it’s obvious why they need the cups.”
The town centre incident comes on the back of repeated, but unconfirmed, reports of underage drinking parties and bonfires in the National Park.
“We will investigate all reports of underage drinking,” a Killarney Garda spokesperson told the Killarney Advertiser.
Members of the public can immediately report a crime or any incident of anti-social behaviour by texting KILLARNEY, along with a brief account of the incident and the location to 50555.