Teens locked out of ‘chaotic’ disco get refunds

The organiser of a Junior Cert disco that refused entry to hundreds of teenagers has, one month on, issued refunds to disappointed ticketholders.

Eyewitnesses described ‘chaotic’ scenes at the Silversprings Hotel in Cork City on June 18, when security at the Junior Cert event closed entry to hundreds of ticketholders amid fears that the venue had reached capacity. Cork City Fire Brigade was called to the venue to free a group of girls who had become stuck in a lift.

The event’s capacity was subsequently the source of dispute between the hotel and promoter.

While Pineapple Entertainment said it had made 1,200 tickets available for the disco, a spokesperson for Clayton Silversprings Hotel insisted they had agreed to rent out the premises on condition that only 1,000 people would be admitted for the event.

Earlier this month Adam Courtney of Pineapple Entertainment insisted that those refused entry would be refunded after a number of teens and their parents had complained that they had yet to get their money back.

Mr Courtney met with ticketholders at Cork County Cricket Club last Saturday to issue the refunds.

Declan O’Hara, whose son was denied entry to the disco, subsequently praised Mr Courtney for meeting teens and parents, describing him as ‘courageous.’

“We went down to the cricket club, his name was on a list, it was ticked off, he was handed an envelope and to be fair to this guy he apologised,” he told Neil Prendeville on Cork’s Red FM.

“He said that he was very sorry for what had happened, he apologised.” Mr O’Hara said that he hoped the experience would not deter the young promoter.

“I know it was a disaster on the night but I just felt it was important for someone to follow through on this and tell the public that this guy gave back the money to the people that showed up on the day,” he said.

“He made a very big mistake, he’s obviously learned from that and I’d hate to see a guy as young as that not to go away and do something like this again.

“These are the guys who are going to organise the big gigs that our kids will be going to down the road,” Mr O’Hara said.