The Dublin City manager has admitted he personally supported five Garth Brooks concerts but denied that assurance was given to Croke Park management that all the shows would be licensed.

The promoters of the Garth Brooks concerts in Croke Park were given no assurances that five shows could go ahead, while the debacle might have been avoided if a formal pre-application consultation had taken place before the tickets went on sale, according to Dublin City Council.

Dublin City Council officials stood by their commendably forthright manager at yesterday’s Dáil hearing, writes Noel Baker.