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Images of crowds of young people drinking in downtown Killarney have prompted lawsuits for the gardaí to crack down on gatherings that have become increasingly common in recent weeks.
The footage, which has gone viral on social media, was shot on Main St in the city of Kerry in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Adult men and women are seen partying, many of whom are believed to be Irish tourists, drinking on both sides of the street and cheering as cars pass by on crowded sidewalks. There are few attempts to observe social distancing.
Some men are seen jumping on top of a phone booth that houses the downtown defibrillator and, in the widely shared video, a man takes off his underwear as the audience cheers.
The footage is the latest of its kind in recent weeks of crowded and rebellious street scenes in Killarney that has left locals in shock. Dozens of young people flock to the outskirts of pubs and in the vicinity of popular venues without observing any kind of social distance.
The city’s mayor, Brendan Cronin, described the latest scenes as embarrassing. He has asked Gardaí to take a firmer approach.
“At a time when we cannot go to see a football game, in which weddings are postponed and other family occasions are postponed, the behavior seen last night in our town was nothing less than showing two fingers to everyone. They have put in a lot of time and effort to make Killarney safe, ”said Mr. Cronin.
Disgusted that all the law-abiding publicans saw scenes like this in Killarney last night.
Especially when most of the pubs are still closed.
Close the business that sold you the take-out pints immediately and enforce the new Garda laws. @VFIpubs pic.twitter.com/uhfRG8HY8y– Kerry Pubs (@ThePubsOfKerry) August 30, 2020
A Garda spokesperson said they are aware of video circulating on social media of the scenes in the city, but said the force does not comment on an excerpt of audio / video footage.
However, An Garda Síochána said in a statement that, on the night in question, he had resources to patrol in the Killarney district “and local Gardaí reported that a large number of people socialized in Killarney at night.”
“A Garda Síochána in Killarney participated in the ongoing investigation of a fatal traffic collision and responded to a number of additional incidents, including the serious investigation into the unexplained death of a man,” he said.
Social distancing and other similar public health guidelines are not criminal provisions under the Health Act of 1947, the statement said.
Mr. Cronin has called a meeting of the City Garda Superintendent, the Chairman of the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and the Killarney City Manager to address recent developments.
“An overwhelming majority of people in Killarney and businesses in the city have adhered to the public health guidelines and restrictions introduced by the Government and the Health Services Executive during the course of the pandemic,” said Paul Sherry, president of the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce.
“It is disappointing that some people find it appropriate to act irresponsibly with little or no respect for others.”
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