Crackdown on public drinking

A new by-law banning alcohol consumption in public areas was soon to be introduced in Northern Ireland and, with the days of wine and roses in Lurgan Park looking to be numbered, Mayor Jim McCammick was hoping to put drinking spots to another use.

Craigavon council were one of 12 local authorities who had asked for the new experimental scheme to be introduced.

The initiative was to make it an offence to consume intoxicating liquor in designated areas such as parks, streets and car parks after a constable had warned the culprits not to do so.

Mr McCammick was delighted at the news, saying: “I can assure you that no-one is keener to get the by-law introduced than I am. It’s something which should have been done years ago.

“I want to see an almost immediate introduction because it is causing endless problems throughout the borough. It’s putting old people who live near open spaces in fear and at risk.”

A maximum fine of 100 was to be set during the by-law’s two-year experimental run and the Mayor said the initiative would also help tackle the litter problem created by so-called ‘lager louts’.

He said it took one of his employees about 20 minutes to clear the bottles, cans and rubbish from in front of his Robert Street business every Monday morning. “The by-law will promote a cleaner, better borough,” he said.

Mr McCammick added that he was looking into the possibility of holding public, open air gospel meetings in several of the areas used by drinkers.

He said he would be in contact with the local clergy as several Lurgan people had commented that the public drinking did not seem so prominent when meetings were held in the past.