Waterford IT apologises for drunken behavour

Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has “unreservedly condemned” the behaviour of its students last Wednesday night, which resulted in 31 arrests being made by gardai.

The college is now set to review its annual “Christmas day” events after dozens of complaints of drunkenness and anti-social behaviour were received about its students.

Local residents reported a number of offences to gardai, including public sex, urinating on property and vandalism.

A holy statue located along the Cork road is said to have been vandalised during the celebrations.

As part of a WIT tradition, the first Wednesday in December is known as “Christmas day”, where students celebrate the end of semester classes.

A WIT spokesperson said that “it is clear a different approach will need to be taken to the organisation of events where students celebrate Christmas in future years”.

The students arrested have all been released with some being giving a caution or a fine according to gardai.

A number of angry residents were broadcast on RTE One’s Liveline on Friday and described the Templer’s Hall estate as the worst area for anti-social behaviour.

“The disturbances going on in the area has been going on for years but it has never reached these ridiculous proportions,” said one male caller.

“The gardai are doing all they can but it’s like trying to stop the floods in the west of Ireland,” he commented.

“The Institute is proud of the great majority of our students and recognises that they too have quickly dissassociated themselves from the behaviour of a small and unrepresentative number who damage the reputation of all students,” according to a college spokesperson.