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Crackdown on night club overcrowding By TOM KELLY A hit squad will be vigilant in Mayo this Christmas clamping down on night club overcrowding. The county's fire fighting authority has teamed up with the Garda Siochana in ensuring the safety of festive-time revellers. A series of random checks will be carried out during the holiday period on premises to examine how they are complying with safety requirements. Disco and dance hall operators received a letter from Mr. Seamus Murphy, Chief Fire Officer, outlining the strategy which has been put in place. He stated: "We are taking every step this Christmas to ensure that overcrowding in places of public assembly is not tolerated. "We appreciate the difficulties that proprietors experience by having to refuse entry to patrons in order to adhere to fire safety requirements. "To help them meet the regulations, we intent carrying out random checks on premises." Mr. Murphy issued a special appeal to patrons to co-operate with proprietors of dance hall. "They should not demand entry to a hall if it is full to the limit. "By the same token, dance hall owners cannot afford to keep packing people into their premises. "The initiative will only be a success if everybody co-operates." Proprietors found in breach of the regulations can face serious consequences. They can be prosecuted in court and an objection raised to the renewal of their licence. Mr. Murphy added: "We look forward to the continued co-operation of proprietors on the matter so that everybody can enjoy themselves in a safe environment." Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - December 1997 |
