Violence in our towns and cities continues to be a topic for the regional newspapers. Alcohol and drugs are identified as contributing to the problem. The Kildare Nationalist headlines its report "Availability of drugs is frightening." It goes on to report: "Widespread availability of drugs in rural Ireland is one of the most frightening developments of recent years," says Kildare South Deputy, Mr Jack Wall. The TD is reported as saying that "the gardai know of the huge upsurge in drug dealing outside cities with drug gangs seeking out new markets in which to ply their vile trade".
The Leitrim Observer has a front-page headline which says there is "Concern at increasing level of violence among young people". The report, by Donal O'Grady, says: "In a well-supported motion tabled at the last meeting of Leitrim County Council, Cllr Thomas Mulligan, expressed his concern at the increasing level of violence on the streets of our towns, particularly at weekends and after disco hours".
The Mayo News reports: "A Westport man who assaulted three other men during a row outside a local pub has received a four-month suspended prison term." The defendant had pleaded not guilty. The Roscommon Champion reports: "A young man who grunted at a patrol car in The Square in Roscommon was fined £400." The court was told that earlier the man had insulted gardai by referring to them as "f . . . ing pigs" and was later "abusive in custody".
The same paper reported that another young man who "pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in Roscommon town had his case adjourned for a probation report".
The Donegal People's Press reports that a garda "saw a group of youths trying to separate two men after a fight outside a nightclub. A man was fined £40.
The Roscommon Herald says: "Two 16-year-old students were taken to Castlerea Garda station after they were found seriously intoxicated. The students, male and female, were found suffering from what (a garda) described as overindulgence in alcohol. Both were taken to the Garda station and a doctor was called."
The Bray People reports: "Alarm at rise in heroin use". The paper said: "Growing numbers of Bray teenagers are becoming addicted to heroin as hard drugs make a return to the town's streets. Gardai have confirmed an increase in the level of drug detections in the town in recent times, while community sources say that heroin appears to be readily available in several estates in the town."
The Sligo Champion gives front-page prominence to a report which says: "Amid fears of a growing drug problem in the region, calls have been made for a substantial increase in the number of gardai deployed in the special drugs units in Sligo and Leitrim."
The Corkman headlines on its front page: "Gardai appeal for help in two sex attacks over the weekend".
The Nationalist and Leinster Times reports: "A foreign national was attacked and beaten to the ground by four locals along Tullow Street in the centre of Carlow town in the early hours of Sunday morning." Four men were later arrested and the paper reports that there may be further arrests.
Tourism is another topic which is treated widely in the regional papers. The Donegal Democrat leads its front page with the news that "plans have been revealed for a Celtic Music Festival which it is proposed will be held across the county and is hoped will bring millions in off-season revenue to the tourist industry. The festival is planned to run on a yearly basis in several towns throughout the county, starting February, 2003."