GARDAI may take legal action to shut down under-age teenage discos in County Donegal.
It follows dozens of incidents of assault and drunken behaviour by children as young as 13.
The discos have become a feature in several towns in Donegal in recent years including Bundoran, Letterkenny, Buncrana and Gaoth Dobhair.
But Gardai have “had enough” of the outrageous behaviour which comes with the discos.
Senior officers were keen to stress that all the discos were run responsibly and that no alcohol was being served on premises which run the events.
However it is now clear that cheap drink bought in supermarkets – alongside drugs – are bringing havoc midweek to many towns…and casualties to hospitals.
At one recent disco in Letterkenny gangs of drunken youths brought the town to a standstill as running battles were conducted on the main street.
Punch-ups which left several young teens in hospital ensued.
“We are looking at the legislation to see what can be done,” said one senior Donegal garda.
“The functions are run properly and within the law but you cannot legislate for a large crowd of these children getting drunk out of their skulls and starting fights.
“If I could do it, I’d ban the discos altogether because so many kids are turning up drunk.”
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