“THE authorities at the University of Limerick are to review the future of the college’s annual rag week following disturbances which led to 20 arrests.
A large number of students were also given on-the-spot fines for drinking in public places.
UL president Professor Don Barry said yesterday: “Since becoming president, I have developed a huge regard for students of this university and it is regrettable that the inexcusable, anti-social behaviour of a minority has brought the good name of the UL student body into disrepute.
“I want to put on record my condemnation of these incidents and to express regret to all those who have been negatively affected by them.”
Prof Barry said the college’s disciplinary system was addressing what had occurred.
A car was turned over on its roof in the front garden of a house in one incident and trees in local estates in Castletroy were uprooted.
Some UL students were arrested in the city centre for anti-social behaviour during the week which raised more than €10,000 for charity.
In order to avoid a repetition of what occurred, Prof Barry said the “facilitation, by the university, of rag week activities will be reconsidered”.
The president of UL students union, Pa O’Brien, condemned the conduct of a small minority of students.
Local resident Ursula Stokes said some students had “gone bananas”. She claimed some estates resembled Afghanistan due to the behaviour of students.
She called on the college to cancel rag week.”
[Jimmy Woulfe, Irish Examiner, 7 April]