Over 200 home parties recorded at Cork city center properties

More than 220 house parties have taken place in a small residential area in the heart of Cork city since late May, according to terrified residents, who fear an increase in antisocial behavior and the possible spread of Covid-19.

According to an ongoing survey in place since May, they are all based on a narrow 1.5km stretch of residential streets adjacent to the University College Cork campus between Bendemeer Park and Gillabbey Street.

According to residents of Magazine Road and its surroundings, the Gardaí were called to the festivities 127 times. One house has received at least 16 complaints against it, while others have had seven and 15.

Residents, many of whom are elderly, have continued to monitor the holidays since they started to become a big problem in May.

Around 200 students from other parts of Cork, Kerry and Limerick moved into properties on and around Magazine Road. Shortly after her arrival, there were a series of noisy house parties.

Residents estimate that thousands of young people have attended these parties since they began earlier this year.

Catherine Clancy of the Magazine Road and Surrounding Area Residents Association said: “At best, this scale of problem would be horrendous.

“But we are dealing with an epidemic of house parties in the middle of a pandemic. And even though everything is happening in the constituency of Taoiseach Micheal Martin, we feel abandoned.

“At the moment, there does not appear to be any legislation to stop house parties at these large rental properties.

“Frankly, a kennel would have better legislation.”

Residents first asked the organizers, some of whom are students, outright to stop, but they were mostly ignored.

Then they went after the owners and are currently campaigning for a change in existing laws.

They wanted the authorities to use draconian provisions of the 1947 Health Act, which stipulates fines and jail time, to be used against rowdy residents.

But they have since discovered that these regulations do not apply to events in private homes unless there is a confirmed outbreak of a serious illness.

A Gardaí spokesperson said: “An Garda Síochána continues to respond to meeting reports and interact with communities with a view to implementing the guidelines issued by the Government and the HSE to minimize the impact of Covid-19 on our community as a whole. .

“By supporting the Covid-19 public health guidelines, An Garda Síochána has embraced a graduated police response based on its tradition of consent policing.”

They added: “Following the house party incidents in the College Road / Magazine Road area of ​​Cork in late May and early June, Gardaí in the Cork City Division has engaged closely and extensively with stakeholders and local residents.

“Gardaí has ​​increased patrols in this area and other areas in accordance with the police plan during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

“A Garda Siochana has always had to respond to complaints about parties / gatherings in private homes with limited powers.

“Noise complaints are a civil matter and are handled by the local authority.

“Social distancing and other similar public health guidelines are not criminal provisions.”

A UCC spokesperson said, “We again call on all students to fulfill our shared responsibility to ensure we protect ourselves and our community.

“Students are reminded that while the academic year has not yet begun, students are expected to uphold the UCC Standards of Conduct.”