By Cianna McNally

A proposal by Councillor Brendan Hughes which asked the Castleblayney Joint Policing Committee to consider a relaxation of the town byelaws to allow drinking outside pubs on special occasions such as during a festival weekend was discussed at this week’s meeting of the JPC.

Councillor Jackie Crowe felt that the issue was one that deserved some thought as it was permitted in some European countries. Cllr Gary Carville said that he would be open-minded in relation to the proposal but added that caution would need to be exercised as he felt there were positives and negatives. Inspector Fintan McTiernan stated that the Gardaí would be totally against the change to the byelaws as he felt it would look terrible and if a fight flared, glasses could potentially be used as weapons. Sergeant Eric Boyle agreed with Inspector McTiernan and said that if the byelaws were changed the current signage in the town would have to change which could lead to further problems.

Chair of the JPC Cllr Joe Brennan said that he strongly oppose any change to the byelaws as he felt there would only be more work created for the Gardaí. Similarly, Mary Lynch from Monaghan Youth Information Centre believed that the move would be a “retrograde” step as with regard to underage drinking, it could make it easier for underage teenagers to gain access to alcohol.