Minister urges investigation of Phoenix Park concert trouble
The Minister for Social Protection said that the incidents of violence and drunken behaviour in the Phoenix Park on Saturday were “totally unacceptable”.
Minister Joan Burton was commenting in reaction to reports that nine people were injured in a series of stabbing attacks at the concert in the park headlined by dance music act Swedish House Mafia.
Numerous arrests for drug offences were made at the concert on Saturday night, and two young men in attendance died from suspected overdoses in separate incidents.
Lee Scanlon from Clonsilla lost his life after taking ill at the venue, and Shane Brophy from Co Laois died after collapsing at a friend’s house in Lucan.
The minister expressed her condolences to the families of the dead, and also extended her sympathies to all the injured people and their families.
She said that those who had set out to have a nice summer’s day shouldn’t have been subjected to the scenes which met them in the Phoenix Park at the weekend.
“Serious questions need to be asked about whether there was sufficient security at the event. I saw the excessive intake of alcohol on Saturday as I was in the Castleknock and Navan Road areas myself.
“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.”
The minister noted with interest that the “atmosphere at the other events held in the Phoenix Park over the weekend was entirely different as they attracted a more mature audience.
“The nature of Saturday’s event was clearly unsuitable to the Park, whereas the other events over the weekend were not problematic,” she said.
Meanwhile, Garda officials met with promoters MCD to discuss the concerns surrounding the event, with both sides committing to carry out an in-depth review.
In a statement, Gardaí confirmed making 33 arrests at the venue on Saturday leading to 70 charges on public order, drunkenness and drug-related offences.
Further meetings are expected to take place, while the Garda Commissioner will be preparing a report for Minister for Justice Alan Shatter.
