Perth GAA clubs to assist police over ‘antisocial’ Irish emigrants

Police in Perth are to initiate a "zero tolerance policy" over what they view as antisocial Irish emigrants and to spread their message, they're seeking the assistance of local GAA clubs.

According to a report in this morning's Irish Times, antisocial behaviour among Irish emigrants Down Under has got so bad that Perth police want GAA clubs to spread the message that such antics will not be tolerated and may possibly lead to deportation.

An email sent to all members of the St Finbarr's GFC club has enforced the gravity of the issue, as it claims that the Perth police will speak to "all of the GAA clubs" and that "deportation would be the final conclusion". The message reads as follows:

Hello fellow Finbarrians,

The following message is not only for your perusal, but also one which you can pass on to all your fellow Irish friends here in Perth.

The WA [West Australia] police are extremely unhappy and appalled by the antisocial behaviour which is taking place all too often on the streets and in the pubs across Perth and its suburbs, especially in the Northbridge area. Even Rental Agencies are not as willing to rent properties to Irish people here in Perth, as they are getting destroyed during parties, and being left in terrible conditions once vacated.

"We have been advised, that over the next few weeks, the Perth Police will be, at random going around to all of the GAA Clubs and talking to club members, advising them of same. They want to get the message across to all Irish in Perth that what has been going on is just not acceptable, and if it continues there will be consequences.

Police will be adopting a Zero tolerance policy for any antisocial behaviour. If individuals don’t abide by the law, and take heed of move on notices, their visas WILL firstly be investigated, before court action, meaning that deportation would be the final conclusion. This is the last thing anyone of us or our fellow Irish counterparts here in Perth want.

This a very serious matter, and I hope that you and your friends will now be aware of the consequences should occurrences with the Police occur. Not something we are encouraging that is for sure.

Please spread the work to your fellow Irish, as this is affecting all of our reputations here not only the people who are causing the trouble.

Many Thanks for reading the above.

Regards

Linda H

President
St. Finbarrs GFC

Speaking to the Times, GAA WA president Robert O'Callaghan said that the police were "doing the right thing to get the message out there to the general public," while one owner of an Irish pub in Perth told the Irish Echo: "We don't want the young Irish here."