ICONN faces another round of headaches
by MAUREEN SMITHE
A once popular Notre Dame hangout faces further complications following summer problems with alcohol and violence.
Converted to an alcohol-free dance club, Irish Connection (popularly known as ICONN), 525 N. Hill St., spent much of this summer clashing with law enforcement officials and the court system in a battle that may eventually close the business' doors forever.
A raid on the club in November of 1998 uncovered 95 underage Notre Dame and Saint Mary's students. Then, last September, the city of South Bend forced the bar to surrender its liquor license.
This June, amidst neighbors' complaints of litter and drunken arguments in the streets, another blow came to the club when 18-year-old Carl McFadden was shot and killed as he drove near Crescent and Hill streets.
"For many years, it was a place where people fought inside and out. People were found with drugs and weapons," said Ann-Carol Nash, assistant city attorney for South Bend. "We were babysitting that piece of property every weekend night."
Despite a court order on July 28 that mandated the club's nightly closing by midnight, club owners and the city attorney's office struck a deal this month allowing the club to remain open until 1:15 a.m.
"They have to have security at each entrance and in the parking lot. They have to check people for weapons and dangerous bottles. The club also has to clean up and down Hill Street by 7:30 a.m. everyday," Nash said. "Any indication that they're not doing that would be a reason to bring them back to court and hold them in contempt."
Club owner Leon Townsend fears the court order will hurt his business.
"We cater to the teenage crowd because there's no other place for young people to go. Most of them don't start going out until 10 [p.m.]," Townsend said.
Officials at Notre Dame see the actions taken by the city as a step in the right direction. Off-campus student housing is within walking distance of ICONN.
"ICONN in the past year really wasn't a big hangout spot for students," said Bill Kirk, vice president of student affairs. "If there is a place that has a criminal problem, there is a danger for students."
"It makes everybody in the community safer. I don't want a Notre Dame or Saint Mary's student hurt when passing by the place," Nash said.
Nash said she doesn't foresee Irish Connection's problems spreading to other local bars.
"There is always a possibility of this happening to other establishments if there are problems, complications or concerns, but we always give a warning," she said.
All News Stories for Monday, August 28, 2000
