Ninth Level Ireland

“Paula Bradshaw (Alliance): The House will be very familiar with complaints about the Holylands area of South Belfast, with the all-night partying, the risk of COVID being spread and waste being dumped in alleyways. In addition, I was made aware overnight that a young woman was followed home. I have seen the footage of her front door having been kicked in by a man …” (more)

[Northern Ireland Assembly, 21 September]

“The number of arrests made after several nights of anti-social behaviour in the Holyland area of Belfast has now risen to 12, police have confirmed. Large groups of young people have been gathering and drinking on the streets on a nightly basis ahead of the start of the new university term …” (more)

[BBC News, 16 September]

“Five people have been arrested and more than 2,500 bottles and cans of alcohol have been seized over two nights in Belfast’s Holyland. Police said large crowds of mainly young people gathered on the streets on Monday. Five arrests were made for offences including disorderly behaviour and burglary …” (more)

[BBC News, 14 September]

“More than 1,500 items of alcohol were seized by police in the Holyland area in south Belfast during a night of unrest. Officers contending with large crowds of young people made five arrests for a number of offences including disorderly behaviour and burglary, issued 10 community resolution notices, a penalty notice for disorderly behaviour and reported three people to the Public Prosecution Service …” (more)

[Rebecca Black, Belfast Telegraph, 14 September]

“Belfast Holyland residents have said that they have been left feeling ‘intimidated, disrespected and scared’ in their own homes after almost 400 young people gathered for a street party. One resident described it as one of the biggest nights of disruption he had experienced in almost 10 years …” (more)

[Amy Cochrane, Belfast Telegraph, 13 September]

“Infuriated Holyland residents have shared horrifying stories of anti-social behaviour in the area ahead of proposed legal action against the PSNI, Belfast City Council and Ulster and Queen’s Universities …” (more)

[Ralph Hewitt, Belfast Telegraph, 21 August]

“Young people have been made scapegoats for the pandemic, a students’ union has said. Ulster University Students’ Union president Collette Cassidy made the claim after St Patrick’s Day passed off without major incident …” (more)

[Gareth Cross, Belfast Telegraph, 18 March]

“There was a heavy police presence on Wednesday evening in Belfast’s Holyland, following the closure of Botanic Gardens after large crowds had gathered in the park during the afternoon. A visible PSNI operation around the area has seen the Holyland experience a quiet end to St Patrick’s Day …” (more)

[Christopher Leebody, Belfast Telegraph, 17 March]

“Residents in Belfast’s Holyland area have voiced their anger after it emerged that the city council requested powers from Stormont to deal with issues in the area six months ago – but was blocked …” (more)

[Andrew Madden, Belfast Telegraph, 16 March]

“The PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne has warned anyone planning to travel to the Holyland area of Belfast for St Patrick’s Day that police will deal robustly with Covid-19 breaches and anti-social behaviour. Mr Byrne is also backing a call by the area’s MP for a task force to oversee change in the main student area of Belfast – not just on St Patrick’s Day but all year round …” (more)

[Lauren Harte, Belfast Telegraph, 15 March]

“A task force is needed to oversee change in the main student area of Belfast – not just on St Patrick’s Day but all year round, the area’s MP has said. The Holylands area has become synonymous with anti-social behaviour on March 17, with large crowds, including those from outside the area, gathering to party …” (more)

[Mairead Holland, Belfast Telegraph, 15 March]

“Residents of the Holyland have rounded on the First and deputy First Ministers for their ‘wholly inadequate’ response to concerns about house parties in the run-up to St Patrick’s Day. The south Belfast student area is notorious for revelry at this time of the year …” (more)

[Claire McNeilly, Belfast Telegraph, 10 March]

“Fears are growing that St Patrick’s Day celebrations will rage through Belfast’s student area after ‘alarming’ reports of multiple house parties on Monday night. Residents in the Holyland area said young people have been gathering ‘from far and wide’ for drunken festivities, and blatantly disregarding current lockdown restrictions …” (more)

[Claire McNeilly, Belfast Telegraph, 23 February]

“When Brid Ruddy first moved to the Holyland area of Belfast in the mid-1970s, it was to escape the sectarian confines around the Oldpark Road in the north of the city …” (more)

[Michael Sheils McNamee, BBC News, 27 September]

“A number of students from Ulster University have received a precautionary suspension for breaching coronavirus guidelines. A spokesperson for the university said ten students have received precautionary suspensions, with a further three cases pending since a new disciplinary policy was introduced on Monday …” (more)

[Eimear McGovern, Belfast Telegraph, 23 September]

“Students may be prevented from returning home at the weekends if coronavirus continues to spread in Belfast and other university towns, Arlene Foster has warned. Mrs Foster’s comments come amid concerns about the potential for students residing together in large numbers during the week bringing Covid-19 back to their local areas …” (more)

[Belfast Telegraph, 22 September]

“A number of students have been suspended from Queen’s University following disorder in the Holyland area of south Belfast in recent days. It’s after the university received notifications of coronavirus regulation breaches from the PSNI, which led to the suspension of the students for two weeks …” (more)

[Eimear McGovern, Belfast Telegraph, 22 September]

“Police have issued 55 Covid notices, including 31 at one house alone, and eight prohibition notices after another night of disruption in the Holyland area of south Belfast. Two arrests were made for drug possession and assault, while a passing police patrol gave first aid to a 20-year-old man who was drunk and unconscious …” (more)

[Belfast Telegraph, 21 September]

“Police have issued 47 Covid-19 notices and nine prohibition notices over the last two nights in the Holyland area of Belfast. A 16-year-old male was also arrested for possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply during the same period …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 20 September]

“Thirty people from across Northern Ireland attended a house party in Belfast’s Holyland area, police said. Three people attempted to hide by locking themselves in a bathroom for more than 10 minutes as officers dealt with other people …” (more)

[Michael McHugh, Belfast Telegraph, 18 September]