Eighteen arrested following Holyland disturbances

Eighteen people have been arrested for “disorderly behaviour” following a night of disturbances in the Holyland area of south Belfast.

Despite calls by Northern Ireland's two universities for students to behave themselves in the run up to St Patrick’s Day, people lined the streets drinking and partying into the early hours in what one local resident described as like scenes from a “circus”.

Queen’s University Pro-Vice Chancellor Gerry McCormac expressed disappointment that "all the appeals we have made have fallen on deaf ears".

"There are certainly some of the activities on the street that would attract fines or even suspensions when people appear before the disciplinary committee,” he added.

Earlier this week, Queen's University said five students had been fined for bad behaviour.

"The universities, the police, all of the agencies involved are dealing with a very difficult situation,” Professor McCormac said.

"All that we can do is continue to apply the disciplinary procedures that we put in place."

(MB)