179 on-the-street drinking fines were issued by Gardaí during last year’s RAG week in a new zero tolerance approach to the student event.

Head of Community Policing Sergeant Stewart Philpott said in relative terms it was a good RAG week and said University College Cork had taken great steps to host a enjoyable event for all.

Sergeant Philpott said that anyone caught drinking on the street during the event, which was heavily policed, got a fine.

“We hit them hard the first few days to try and get the message out there that we were not going to tolerate any drinking on the streets and it seemed to work. As RAG week goes, it was quite a good one.” 

The Head of Community Policing said that there are always going to be issues with the event but increased communication and cooperation between local parties has lessened the problem considerably.

“There are always issues, there are issues with house parties, drugs, traffic, the usual, but overall and feedback from the residents was that it was better than other years.

“There was a lot of work done in the run up to it from the point of view that we would have meetings with UCC with the student union, the student support, residents, local publicans and they were going on right up until the event.

“So I suppose everyone was talking to each other so everyone was aware of the issues were going to be and I suppose we were highlighting things before they became bigger issues.” Sergeant Philpott said the feedback afterwards was that it was quite a successful event and the combined efforts of locals, publicans, business owners, UCC and Gardaí are working.

“99% of students were a pleasure to deal with and it was not the majority that were causing difficulties in the area.

“The majority of residents are also very patient and understanding, it is only when things really get out of hand that they decide to call us.”