Gardai break up outdoor drinking party in Clare town

Gardaí were called to disperse a group of young people who had were allegedly drinking and gathering together contrary to public health guidelines in a Clare town on Saturday night.

Once gardaí arrived on the scene in Killaloe, young people fled before they could be cautioned, leaving a picnic table full of empty bottles of alcohol.

A spokesman for Killaloe Gardaí confirmed there were about 20 youths when gardaí arrived in the Ballina Quay area around 7.30pm in response to complaints from members of the public.

He said the young teenagers ran off in different directions and gardaí carried out further mobile patrols, which ensured there was no further incidents of this kind.

While no on-the-spot fines were issued to youths following this incident, he confirmed gardaí have issued fines to people who refused to comply with public health guidelines in other parts of the county.

He said gardaí normally issued fines when people refused to comply with their instructions to comply with public health guidelines.