A woman from Ranelagh in Dublin has criticised Gardaí for 'heavy handed' tactics towards young people drinking outdoors.

Aisling from Ranelagh says people are being told to meet outdoors where it is safer, but are then being moved on.

She told Lunchtime Live the by-laws should be changed to reflect the current circumstances.

"I feel that young people are really being badly treated in terms of any kind of social life.

"Going right back a year ago, all the universities were closed before the country went fully into lockdown - so from March of last year, the kids have had no university whatsoever.

"Then when takeaway pints came in, and they attempted to go out and have a takeaway pint in a park or wherever, my understanding is - just from my own kids - that the policing has been incredibly heavy-handed."

She said a few months ago, when her children tried to go out, the Gardaí turned up "immediately".

"By the way, I think young people have done an absolutely fantastic job in protecting the older generation - they did as they were asked to do, they stayed home.

"And then when takeaway pints were brought in and they attempted to go out and get takeaway pints... they were immediately sent home by the Guards.

"And, by the way, were required to pour those pints down the drain before they went home - so not even given the opportunity to take them home."

She said she believes policing around the issue is becoming "increasingly heavy handed.

"To the point that in our area - which is Dublin 6 - last weekend the universities were on their last day, the exams had finished.

"And when the kids went down trying to get takeaway pints, the Guards arrived really in very heavy force.

"Public order vans were lined up on the Clonskeagh Road, and the kids were driven from the Dodder - where they were along the green space there - up on to the road at Clonskeagh, the Garda helicopter was flying over.

"And I'm just really asking the question: what are young people supposed to do?"

'About time they were given a break'

Aisling said she knows some people have complained about noise and litter recently.

"But actually the reality is because the Guards are chasing them, they don't even have an opportunity to pick up their litter.

"They're literally run after by the Guards".

And she said the advice from authorities is that outside events are safe.

"We are told consistently that socialising outside is safe, the Government are introducing outdoor dining and outdoor drinking for the summertime.

"My understanding is that the by-laws are going to be changed in order to allow that to happen.

"There's no difference between drinking outside on the street in Dalkey and drinking outside The Dropping Well, or drinking outside Farmer Browns."

She said the by-laws have to be changed: "The by-laws were introduced as a public order thing going back years, different times.

"Young people I think have been extremely responsible and extremely good in protecting those of us who are older - and I think it's about time they were given a break."