"Going nuts" risks delaying reopening society - St Patrick's Day plea

Any revellers celebrating St Patrick’s Day in large gatherings in the Holylands area this year risk not just falling foul of public order rules, but also being guilty of coronavirus rule breaches.

A local MP’s warning that any large parties on the street, a recurring issue of recent years in the university area of Belfast, could undo some of the hard earned progress in the fight against covid-19 that’s been gained through stringent lockdown measures.

"Genuine sacrifices" made - so don't blow it tomorrow, says SDLP MP Claire Hanna.

“I know people have the impression that things are loosening up, but the whole strategy is predicated on a slow unlocking, if everyone goes nuts at the last fence, that could really delay the reopening of things that we’re all so much looking forward to,” said Claire Hanna.

Last month, the PSNI said that in one day, £11,000 of covid related fines were handed out in the area due to gatherings contrary to the Health Protection Regulations currently in place.

With some restrictions potentially being eased ever so slightly through Stormont’s roadmap review, the SDLP Westminster politician has this stark message to anyone thinking of heading to the area specifically for March 17.

“Just don’t come near the Holylands tomorrow. Don’t come for a wander and think you’ll keep your head about you, just don’t go near it.

“It has undoubtedly been a really tough year for everybody, and not least students and young people for whom that social contact and being out and about and meeting friends is a fundamental part of being young.

“They have made genuine sacrifices, but don’t come to the Holylands tomorrow.

“We are nearly at the finishing line, the strategy is in place for reopening, but it requires everybody to move slowly to make sure we don’t have to take steps back.”

Inconsistencies in policing events?

Downtown/Cool FM News asked the nationalist MP about concerns around how policing of some recent and controversial events has been handled.

There was uproar on February 2 when a gang of over 50 masked men paraded through East Belfast’s Pitt Park.

Footage showed the loyalist mob was mostly unhindered by two police officers who were visible on the ground that day.

Days later on February 5, an arrest was made when police interrupted a memorial service on the Ormeau Road. Family members were laying wreaths on the anniversary of the Sean Graham Bookmaker Massacre. The Chief Constable has since apologised to those present.

Last weekend, celebrations over an historic Rangers win in Scottish football were dubbed super-spreader events

However, Ms Hanna said whatever discrepancies there have been around past events, do not give good excuse to break the rules tomorrow.

“I think there’s been a problem with consistency of policing regulations, even stripping out the Northern Irish dimension in terms of some events that have been policed.

“People haven’t known whether it was a protest or an event or a social occasion, people haven’t known exactly how it was going to be policed because this is kind of new to all of us.

“Certainly in terms of what is going to be a social event, the police are giving a strong message that they will be enforcing because those are the rules.

“I suppose tomorrow, there are no extenuating circumstances because it isn’t a funeral, it isn’t a protest. If people are just going for a party, that is very much within the rules of what is banned.”

How can you celebrate the occassion at home?

Suggesting what those wishing to mark St Patrick’s Day safely might do, Ms Hanna revealed what she will do with her bubble – her husband and three children.

“We will be well ready for St Patrick’s Day 2022,” she began.

“We’ll just be celebrating at home, the kids will be getting on green gear and facetiming with cousins and so on. I know that is tough for people.

“But you can make the stew, you can even have a wee Guinness or two in the house!

“It’s about sticking to the rules in this last bit, so that we can all look forward to the social occasions in the rest of the year.”

Long term solutions to "chronic problems" needed.

Looking to the future, Ms Hanna says she wants to step away from “just wringing our hands a couple of days a year when things get really out of hand” and find sustainable resolutions to “chronic problems” instead.

“The area needs regeneration. It has so much going for it in terms of proximity to the town, and key resources, but a lot of the housing stock is really out of date and it’s just not attractive to anyone other than really short term renters and that’s not good for any area.”

She has asked for the Executive at Stormont to put together a taskforce, comprising of multiple departments, Universities and the PSNI to find long term solutions.

The PSNI’s Chief Constable has given his backing to such a group.

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Tune into Northern Ireland’s number 1 for Country music, Downtown Country on online, on the Rayo app, your DAB radio, or say ‘Play Downtown Country’ on your Smart Speaker. We play you the best Irish and American country music, from Victoria Quinn in the morning, to Big T’s legendary evening Country show. - hellorayo.co.uk/downtown-country/play/