The District Court judge who provoked outrage last week when he said there were no "respectable girls" attending Galway nightclubs has said he made his "tongue-in-cheek" comments while expressing genuine concerns over the level of alcohol abuse in the city.
Judge John Garavan said the late-night drinking culture in Galway was to blame for the numerous public order offences which occurred each week.
He said his comments about "dreadful girls" attending Galway nightclubs were among numerous other jokes he made when he opposed later drinking hours for clubs.