Burton demands ‘detailed’ probe of park anarchy
Nine people were stabbed or slashed during the show headlined by Swedish House Mafia, two died as a result of suspected drug use, and 33 arrests were made.
Reports and images of antisocial behaviour, violence, and drink and drug abuse have heaped pressure on promoters MCD to explain how events appeared to get so out of hand, with Justice Minister Alan Shatter describing events as “very unusual”.
Social Protection Minister Joan Burton last night entered the fray, claiming what unfolded was “totally unacceptable” and questioning the level of security at the concert.
“There will have to be a very detailed examination of the procedures in relation to holding concerts in the Phoenix Park and whether it is an appropriate venue for such concerts.
“Serious questions need to be asked about whether there was sufficient security at the event.
“I also noticed that some very young people appeared to have been drinking heavily. The debris left behind made that very clear. I am also concerned about reports of other substances being abused.”
She said it was “interesting that the atmosphere at the other events held in the Phoenix Park over the weekend [Stone Roses and Snow Patrol] was entirely different as they attracted a more mature audience”.
Senior gardaí met with MCD staff yesterday afternoon to discuss the fallout from the concert.
In a statement last night, a Garda spokesperson confirmed “matters of serious concern in the public domain were raised”, with ongoing reviews by officers and promoters MCD currently taking place.
Brian Hayes — the minister responsible for the Office of Public Works, which can earn a six-sum figure for leasing Phoenix Park out for music events — said he did not believe future concerts should be banned from the venue. “The instances that occurred on Saturday are unacceptable. When instances like this occur it is very serious, it is wrong and we need to find out what went wrong. But I would not preclude the opportunity for other concerts there in the future,” he said.
Amid continued fallout over street drinking, fighting, and open drug taking, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the scenes were appalling.
“The video pictures of what happened out there are absolutely disgraceful, appalling, and that three young people died is simply scandalous,” he said.
The Phoenix Park event was organised as a scaled-down alternative to the cancelled Oxegen in Punchestown, Co Kildare.
MCD has rejected suggestions that security was insufficient and insisted more gardaí and civilian guards were hired for Saturday’s event than required under licence.
The Taoiseach questioned whether the choice of music event headlined by Swedish House Mafia played any part in the behaviour.
“I made the point that 800,000 people turned up in Galway for the Volvo finale without any incident and this particular concert in Phoenix Park was in-between two others where there were no incidents at all. Whether it’s in relation to the sort of music that is played there or not, in any event, it’s tragic for the families involved here.”
Ms Burton also questioned whether security was sufficient, a charge flatly rejected by MCD.
Justice Minister Alan Shatter is expected to reveal the outcome of a Garda inquiry into the festival to the Dáil at a later date.
Elsewhere, Fine Gael Cork South Central TD Jerry Buttimer, who chairs the Oireachtas committee on health and children, said the events of last Saturday night turned the focus on the Irish attitude to drink.
“We need to ensure a focus is firmly placed in schools on drug and alcohol awareness programmes so that our children know exactly what they are dealing with,” he said.
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