Drinking ban still in place as Fleadh looms

LONDONDERRY’S ‘death on booze’ local authority refused to be drawn on whether or not it will waive the city street-drinking bye-law for the UK City of Culture 2013 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2013.

However, a spokesperson did say it would shortly announce appropriate arrangements for what is the biggest event in the City of Culture calendar.

Last year the Sentinel reported how boozy revellers at the Fleadh could expect “craic agus ceol” and a £500 maximum fine if caught sipping pints at al fresco sessions.

This was due to the decision by Derry City Council in 2009 to enact a bye-law outlawing drinking on every known street in the city. It even drew up a schedule of every existing city street to ensure street-drinking was banned.

The law was signed off by the then Mayor Paul Fleming and confirmed by a senior officer of the Department of Social Development (DSD).

According to the Council’s own literature “it works with the PSNI and other groups to enforce alcohol bye-laws in public areas.”

It stresses: “This is especially important during the summer when illegal on-street drinking is more common. The PSNI can confiscate alcohol, take the names of offending drinkers and then pass them onto us so we can prosecture them.”

The Sentinel asked the Council what it was going to do when 300k revellers turn up, many intent on having a pint at outdoor sessions on the city streets.

A spokesperson said: “Derry City Council is currently working with a range of organisations, including city centre Licensees, the Police Service for Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, City Centre Initiative and the organisers of the Fleadh to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place for this key event in our year of culture. Details of these arrangements will be released in the near future when they have been finalised.”

How the Council plans to address the issue is unclear.