RECESSION is having an
unexpected positive effect on the late-night streets
of Inishowen with a “noticeable” drop in the number
of public order offences, according to Gardai.
While double-digit arrests for drunken and
disorderly behaviour were sometimes the norm during
the boom years, just one public order arrest was
made in Inishowen at the weekend.
A Garda spokesperson said the drop had been noticed
by officers who are witnessing a decrease in the
weekend antics brought about by binge-drinking.
"Public order arrests are noticeably down around
Inishowen, particularly since the start of the
year," said the spokesperson yesterday. "It would
seem there is a lot less money to go around and
people aren't spending as much on socialising and
drink."
Figures show that on the weekend of March 28 to
March 31, 2008, there were nine public order arrests
around the peninsula.
The figure for the same period this year, was just
one. St Patrick's Day apprehensions - notoriously
high in the Celtic Tiger years when a dozen or more
arrests was not uncommon - have now dropped to
single figures. Last year, the St Paddy's Day arrest
toll was just one while this year only five people
were arrested for public disorder throughout the
peninsula.
Big wages among well-to-do construction workers were
often blamed for weekend splurges and the resultant
court appearances at Buncrana or Carndonagh District
Court, in the late nineties and early noughties.
Indeed more than one judge, over the years, remarked
on the high level of arrests among well-paid
building workers.
However, anecdotal evidence now suggests that
emigration, coupled with the rising numbers on the
dole, is having an impact at the beer taps too.
The Garda spokesperson said nobody wanted to 'jinx'
the positive downward trend in the figures but
added: "Nobody likes to see an economic recession.
But the drop in public order offences in Inishowen
has to be welcomed because it's better for the
community as a whole. During the boom years there
was quite a lot of money around and a lot of it was
spent on binge-drinking. But the economic downturn
is now definitely having an impact.
"If people do go for a night out, they haven't as
much money to spend. There appears to be more
restraint as a result," added the spokesperson. |
