Iarnród Éireann were urged yesterday to check hold-alls and bags brought on board trains by teenagers, after drunken incidents on the special train carrying Kerry football fans to Dublin on Saturday disturbed passengers and led to gardaí boarding the train.
Callers to Radio Kerry detailed a litany of incidents including harassment of the trolley service worker, vomiting, smoking, rude singing and name-calling of female passengers, by a majority of a group of up to 30 teenagers in Kerry jerseys who boarded the train in Killarney. There were also incidents in the toilets and rubbish was thrown out windows on the train.
On the return journey, at 7.15 p.m. from Heuston, trolley service workers refused to serve the carriages in which the young people travelled.
The group came on board with bags full of alcohol, including spirits and cider. There was no bar service on the train. Half of the group were travelling on juvenile, half-fare tickets, an inspector confirmed.
Iarnród Éireann inspectors called for Garda assistance and three uniformed gardaí boarded the train in Rathmore on the return journey. The young people were cautioned over their behaviour.
The incidents began on the 7.50 a.m. special match train to Dublin when the young people began drinking heavily. According to passengers, one young man fell off the train in a drunken state when he arrived at Heuston Station and had to receive medical attention.
Mr Barry Kenny, spokesman for Iarnród Éireann, said he hoped this was an isolated incident as trains with Kerry supporters are usually trouble-free.