Northern Ireland

Seven Covid notices issued in Belfast’s Holyland

Students have been warned they could face expulsion from university if they continue to flout Covid-19 regulations in the Holylands area of south Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann
Students have been warned they could face expulsion from university if they continue to flout Covid-19 regulations in the Holylands area of south Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann Students have been warned they could face expulsion from university if they continue to flout Covid-19 regulations in the Holylands area of south Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann

Seven Covid notices have been issued to young people infringing the rules in Belfast’s Holyland, police said.

Three prohibition notices were made on properties hosting parties in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Police powers to enforce coronavirus restrictions were made legally enforceable on Wednesday and the first fixed penalty notices cost £60 to discharge.

A man aged 20 previously arrested in the area was again detained on suspicion of breaching bail.

PSNI chief inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick said: “We continue to dedicate substantial resources to policing this area as we work with our partner agencies and the universities to address this ongoing issue.

“In addition to robustly addressing all incidents of antisocial of criminal activity, where appropriate, we will be sharing the details of students have failed to follow the Covid regulations with the universities, who will then consider a range of sanctions.

“Once again, I am warning young people who have moved to the Holyland area and those who are visiting the area, you all share responsibility to adhere to the health protection regulations to protect themselves and others from Covid-19.”

Cleaning up in the Holylands area of south Belfast Picture Mal McCann.
Cleaning up in the Holylands area of south Belfast Picture Mal McCann. Cleaning up in the Holylands area of south Belfast Picture Mal McCann.

A new Stormont-led group aimed at enforcing coronavirus regulations has met to discuss tackling the "deplorable" scenes in Belfast's Holyland area this week where students blatantly ignored Covid-19 safety rules.

Health minister Robin Swann said "urgent and coordinated action" was now required after residents living in the Holyland said hundreds of students leasing rooms and houses in the area had taken to partying both indoors and outdoors, ignoring public health regulations.

There were also reports that some young people from outside of Belfast were travelling to the area and paying £20 to illegally party in houses, sometimes for days.

Speaking at the daily coronavirus briefing yesterday, Mr Swann said the new ministerial-led group would involve the PSNI, Belfast City Council, and representatives of the local universities working with junior ministers from the Departments of Justice, Communities, and Health.

The group met yesterday afternoon after Mr Swann said the "deplorable actions" witnessed in the Holyland on Tuesday night could not continue.

"It is important that we now move to take swift action because the scenes from last night demand it," the health minister said.

Meanwhile, the north's two main universities warned students that they could face expulsion if they are found breaching Covid-19 regulations in the Holyland area.

Queen's University Belfast asked its students to "carefully consider their actions in light of the risks" coronavirus presents while Ulster University said "there can be no place" for any Covid-19 breaches.

Queen’s said the health and wellbeing of students, staff, and the wider community was its "main priority", adding that any student found to be breaching public health guidance would be "dealt with via the relevant disciplinary procedures, which include a number of penalties including fines and up to suspension and expulsion for serious and repeat offenders".

Ulster University said there was a "clear expectation that every member of our community must actively follow" public health regulations.

A spokesman said "there can be no place for anti-social behaviour of any kind", including any breach of COVID guidelines and regulations and any students found breaching the rules would be "subject to the university's disciplinary process which could lead to suspension or expulsion from their degree".

The Holylands area of south Belfast. Picture by Cliff Donaldson
The Holylands area of south Belfast. Picture by Cliff Donaldson The Holylands area of south Belfast. Picture by Cliff Donaldson

SDLP MP Claire Hanna described the behaviour of some students in the Holyland area as "appalling but particularly dangerous in the context of a global health pandemic".

Alliance assembly member Paula Bradshaw said "specific guidance" for the area was needed from the Department of Health.

Ms Bradshaw said what she witnessed was "bedlam. it was absolutely crazy".

"At times it was scary. There was a tension in the air," she said.

Ms Bradshaw said the Department of Health needed to issue "something very specific for that area" which draws in all the other agencies and Belfast city council, who also have a role to play."