Gardaí in Galway have described drink-related violence at this year's St Patrick's Day festival as the "worst ever".
Over 50 arrests were made for public order-related offences, and a 17-year-old is still "critical but stable" in University College Hospital, Galway after a stabbing incident on the Claddagh at 5pm on Thursday. The 17-year-old also sustained head injuries.
The stabbing was one of two serious assaults which occurred some hours after one of the city's most successful parades in recent times.
A covert operation by plain-clothes detectives in the afternoon resulted in a large quantity of alcohol being seized, according to Supt Donal Ó Cualáin. "A number of people bought alcohol in off-licences and sold it later to under-age people, and we expect to have a number of prosecutions pending as a result of this," he said.
The operation was the first of its type on this scale, Supt Ó Cualáin said, and followed complaints about excessive drinking and violence in the city centre during last year's festival. Arrests for public order offences may have been higher this year because of the increased Garda presence, he said.
About a quarter of those arrested were under age, and some were taken into custody for their own safety. Parents were contacted in relation to those being held who were under 18, and in most cases there was a positive response, said Supt Ó Cualáin.
"We are not laying the blame on any particular door here, as there are publicans who are taking a very responsible attitude," he said.
The gardaí had also held discussions with off-licence traders. A meeting with representatives of the drinks industry in Galway would be held before the summer season to ensure that the law was being upheld, he said.
A number of arrests were also made for drink-related offences in Loughrea, Tuam, Gort and Ballinasloe. - Lorna Siggins