At least 50 people were arrested in violent disturbances in Cork on St Patrick's Day, which gardai blamed on excessive alcohol consumption. In the city 30 people were detained after fights broke out.
Gardai were called to a dispute at a traveller halting site in Mahon, where disturbances continued until 2 a.m. despite a large Garda presence. There were brawls in Conna village in east Cork after a disco, and in Cobh after the pubs closed. A Garda spokesman said too much drink was the reason for the trouble in every case.