Killarney street scenes wouldn’t have happened if pubs were open

Kerry’s independent TD Michael Healy-Rae has said the scenes of people drinking on the street in Killarney last Saturday night would not have happened if all the pubs were open.

What happened Saturday night was not representative of what happened in Kerry, he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.

“Killarney is an extremely well policed ​​and managed city, we don’t have instances like this or any type of event, which is not a regular type of event.

“The Gardaí are always present on our streets, but that night we had a series of very unfortunate incidents, a young man lost his life in Killarney, the Gardaí were still there, they were there in minutes and they had dispersed that crowd. ”

Mr. Healy-Rae noted that the incident on Saturday night did not occur inside a public venue.

“This was not within any public premises, because our innkeepers who are open, run exceptionally efficient businesses, very well controlled, are complying with all the guidelines and are doing everything correctly.

That’s why I would use that scene in Killarney on Saturday night as an argument to persuade the government to allow all the bars to open.

Because if our pubs are open, people will get alcohol in a measured and principled way, by responsible people who go to our courts every 12 months and who run what I call respectable pubs.

“They are people who have spent many decades delivering drinks to people, family pubs, family hotels, family restaurants, they are responsible people.

“I am advocating that all pubs should be open, not just those that serve food.” Mr. Healy-Rae acknowledged that her brother Danny runs a pub, but said that everyone in this country has a voice.

“I do not agree with the public health advice, no one can go into detail about what is the difference between a damp house and one that serves food. There are many anomalies.

“Of course I will go on and on, but that doesn’t mean I have to blindly agree and say they are 100% right in everything they say. That is not life.”

HSE CEO Paul Reid has said that while the street scenes in Killarney over the weekend were unfortunate, he did not want to see young people blamed and attacked.

Redoubled efforts were needed to win their hearts and minds, he told Newstalk Breakfast.

“As we approach winter, we must communicate with people with hope and confidence.”