As Galway city braced itself for its "Bud Thud" rock festival and the usual deluge of visitors over the bank holiday weekend, there was almost 100 per cent support yesterday for the GRA's day of action in stations throughout the city and county.
Some city-centre night clubs may have been tempted, but no serious breaches of the controversial licensing laws were anticipated last night. One club was even making a virtue out of necessity, by appealing for customers who would "help" it to obey the law this weekend.
The industrial action did not affect court sittings in Galway city and county yesterday. The one criminal court sitting due for Tuam had already been cancelled due to the indisposition of the judge, according to the court clerk, Mr Salvador Murphy.
However, a hearing for exemptions was held yesterday, when the new Galway Bay Hotel was among premises granted licences at a special sitting of Galway District Court under Judge Al O'Dea.
Chief Supt Tom Monaghan, of Millstreet Garda station, said some 25 per cent of the full force in his division was on duty, with sergeants working 12-hour shifts to meet the demand. Inspectors, sergeants and probationers were answering calls and carrying out other duties, but administrative duties, the serving of summonses and fines, and conduct of investigations had been affected.
