A row has erupted between Northern Ireland’s two main universities over how to stop student riots engulfing the Holylands area of Belfast on St Patrick’s Day.

The University of Ulster has accused Queen’s University of encouraging a “four-day party” by giving its students two extra days off to mark March 17 this year.

But Queen’s has hit back saying the UU alternative approach of warning trouble makers they will be expelled “will be extremely hard to execute”.

The deep disagreement has emerged as the universities attempt to reduce the potential for street disorder on St Patrick’s Day which falls on a Saturday this year, raising fears that the long-running problems will escalate.

The univ

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