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Charges after Holyland trouble Students in court after trouble
(about 5 hours later)
Five people have been charged after disturbances in the Holyland student area of south Belfast. Four students have appeared in court in connection with disturbances in the Holyland area of south Belfast on St Patrick's Day.
The trouble started on Tuesday afternoon when police moved in to clear people who had gathered on a street during St Patrick's Day celebrations. Three were charged with riotous behaviour. Two of them faced a further charge of assaulting a police officer as did a fourth student.
Superintendent Chris Noble they took action when they came under attack. The trouble started on Tuesday afternoon when police moved in to clear people who had gathered on a street.
"The response was proportionate, it was fair and residents were complimentary," he said. Nineteen arrests were made, and eight people subsequently released. A fifth man is due to appear on Wednesday afternoon.
Earlier, Superintendent Chris Noble said they took action when they came under attack.
"The response was proportionate, it was fair and residents were complimentary," he said.
Two police officers were injured during the trouble.
Nineteen arrests were made, and eight people subsequently released.
CLEARING UP THE DAMAGE The day after the night before
Supt Noble said those detained were "idiots".Supt Noble said those detained were "idiots".
"The initial indications are that a lot of the individuals had consumed a significant amount of alcohol in a limited period of time," he said."The initial indications are that a lot of the individuals had consumed a significant amount of alcohol in a limited period of time," he said.
Supt Noble said not all those arrested were students, however south Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell said the universities had to act against those who did get into trouble.Supt Noble said not all those arrested were students, however south Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell said the universities had to act against those who did get into trouble.
'Outrageous'
"The two universities and Belfast Metropolitan College must take a very harsh line with people who behave like this," he said."The two universities and Belfast Metropolitan College must take a very harsh line with people who behave like this," he said.
"They have absolutely no right to behave like this. The way they treat the local people, the way they treat the people who try to live side-by-side with them is outrageous and cannot, and will not, be tolerated.""They have absolutely no right to behave like this. The way they treat the local people, the way they treat the people who try to live side-by-side with them is outrageous and cannot, and will not, be tolerated."
Student residents insisted that a small minority were involved in the violence.Student residents insisted that a small minority were involved in the violence.
Both universities condemned the trouble. Belfast provost of the University of Ulster, Alastair Adair, said he was "appalled by the mayhem and disorder".Both universities condemned the trouble. Belfast provost of the University of Ulster, Alastair Adair, said he was "appalled by the mayhem and disorder".
"This was alcohol-fuelled, by and large," he said."This was alcohol-fuelled, by and large," he said.
"It may be that we have to take measures such as alcohol disorder zones as they have in England, where on certain days at certain times alcohol is prohibited.""It may be that we have to take measures such as alcohol disorder zones as they have in England, where on certain days at certain times alcohol is prohibited."
Expulsion
Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University, Gerry McCormac, said although no student had yet been expelled for bad behaviour, it remained an option open to the university.Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University, Gerry McCormac, said although no student had yet been expelled for bad behaviour, it remained an option open to the university.
"There've been 200 students disciplined this year. One hundred and fifty of those have been warned, 50 fined severely," he said."There've been 200 students disciplined this year. One hundred and fifty of those have been warned, 50 fined severely," he said.
"We have expulsion on our books as an option, we go through a disciplinary process and if expulsion is the punishment that's required for a certain behaviour, we won't hesitate from using that.""We have expulsion on our books as an option, we go through a disciplinary process and if expulsion is the punishment that's required for a certain behaviour, we won't hesitate from using that."
Local private homeowners said the disturbances proved there were too many shared houses, flats and multiple occupancies in the area.Local private homeowners said the disturbances proved there were too many shared houses, flats and multiple occupancies in the area.