Suspected pepper spray attack in theatre, court told

Chaos broke out at a children’s variety show at the Tivoli Theatre in Dublin following a suspected pepper spray attack on audience members, a court has heard.

Performers with the Spotlight Kids, a group of 72 young people from Inchicore, Dublin, staged Fantasy Street at the Tivoli in Francis St for two nights when an incident took place in the auditorium.

At Dublin District Court, Shane Carey has admitted being at the theatre but has pleaded not guilty to assaulting two males and two females in connection with the incident on Apr 27.

Complainants Lisa Donohue, her husband Daragh Sandford, her sister Denise O’Byrne, and her husband Ronan O’Byrne, told the court there was a vacant row of seats between them and a man who had a child on his lap.

Ms Donohue told Judge Michael Walsh that a substance was sprayed for a few seconds from over the right shoulder of the man whom she described as wearing a cap, a blue hoodie, and having a light moustache.

She said the effects of the spray were quickly felt and left her with “burning to my face and to my throat”.

She agreed with Emmett Nolan, defending, the lighting was dim and she did not recall that any smoke machine was used there.

Mr Sandford told the court the man had sprayed him and his wife in the face with a substance for about five to 10 seconds. He said he called security and later saw the same man go to the toilets in the venue.

Mr O’Byrne told the court that the man “sprayed us with a liquid spray”, his eyes began streaming and he also felt burning in his nose.

Ms O’Byrne said “it was like a feeling of choking”, and “there was an incredible burning sensation down my throat, in my eyes”.

Judge Walsh adjourned the trial, which will resume next week, to consider the legal arguments.