Northern Ireland

Holylands students disciplined 1,400 times in three years

Police in the Holyands area of south Belfast on St Patrick's Day last year. Picture by Matt Bohill Pacemaker
Police in the Holyands area of south Belfast on St Patrick's Day last year. Picture by Matt Bohill Pacemaker Police in the Holyands area of south Belfast on St Patrick's Day last year. Picture by Matt Bohill Pacemaker

UNIVERSITY students have faced disciplinary action more than 1,400 times in the past three years for anti-social behaviour in the Holylands.

But none were expelled, prompting residents to call for greater sanctions.

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) had 192 reprimands of students in 2013/14, followed by 279 in 2014/15 and 289 in 2015/16 - a total of 760.

Ulster University (UU) reprimanded students 655 times over the same period, with 197 sanctioned in 2013/14, 230 in 2014/15 and 228 in 2015/16.

Action taken against students at UU included more than 400 cautions, almost 150 fines and three suspensions.

At QUB, the punishments included around 30 fines and 12 referrals to alcohol education courses.

The figures were disclosed to The Irish News in a series of freedom of information requests.

It's believed that some students facing possible expulsion may have chosen to drop out of university before being sanctioned.

Ray Farley of the Belfast Holylands Regeneration Association said he believed students should be expelled, if required, to address anti-social behaviour.

"I do believe people should be expelled. I do believe that severe sanctions should be taken," he said.

A UU spokeswoman said: "Any reports made to us by the authorities will be subject to robust university disciplinary action. This is in addition to any action which may be taken by the PSNI or Belfast City Council."

QUB's Prof David Jones said the university will "fully investigate" complaints of anti-social behaviour.

"The university follows due process in relation to the off-campus disciplinary procedure and students are issued with a sanction in line with the nature of the offence reported and evidence provided."

Meanwhile, Mr Farley has criticised the decision of the universities to cancel classes ahead of St Patrick’s Day.

It is feared that 'reading days' scheduled today and tomorrow, along with Friday's closure, could encourage anti-social behaviour in the Holylands area.

Queen's and UU agreed the days off to encourage students to return to their family homes over the holiday.

Ulster University said they should use the days “for study”, although in 2012 it accused Queen’s of “facilitating a four-day party” by giving extra days off.

Mr Farley said the approach was likely to fail.

“We are against the idea of extra days off as it does not encourage people to stay away – it does the opposite,” he said.

“The days off idea has failed and should not be used, as it proves to be a lure not just for students, but for their friends who they bring up to stay."

UU said it was working closely with the PSNI and Belfast City Council to encourage students to “stay away” from the Holylands, while Queen’s said any student found to have brought the university into disrepute will be subject to the full rigours of its disciplinary code.