Clampdown on late night drinking in Tullamore?

A Tullamore town councillor has called on the council to introduce a new bye-law which would see all licensed premises in the town closing no later than 1.30am. Cllr Tommy McKeigue (FG) has put down a motion for next Thursday’s council meeting, which calls for the town council to adopt a bye-law setting the maximum closing time of all licensed premises in the town area by 1.30am. This bye-law would be agreed with the gardaí and the courts. Cllr McKeigue said the reason was simple. “Recently there were a couple of extensions granted, but it has opened up the floodgates and it means smaller businesses are less competitive,” he explained. “You need a level playing field for everyone.” He added that there was also the question of anti-social behaviour. “It’s in our remit to control the consumption of alcohol bye-laws in the town and I was speaking to gardaí and they are supportive of it... There is such a lack of manpower too late at night already.” “There’s ongoing public order offences taking place in Tullamore. “There were ten arrests on Saturday and five on Sunday night, people are coming out drunk and at 2am it’s far too late.” The motion will be discussed at next Thursday night’s town council meeting.