Garda Report - MCD blamed for violence at SHM gig

davet82 · 07-09-2012 11:52am

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/promoter-mcd-blames-ineffective-policing-for-phoenix-park-gig-chaos-3222479.html

? The style of policing in Phoenix Park and further afield was "ineffective in dealing with the wide-spread incidents of anti-social behaviour" and was an "inappropriate response" to the criminal activity present on the day.

? The policing policy was a contributory factor in exacerbating the incidents of anti-social behaviour.

? Gardai were aware of the identity of the artist from February 28 and that the concert was deemed a higher risk than two other concerts involving the Stone Roses and Snow Patrol held before and after the Swedish House Mafia gig.

? Gardai reduced its personnel from 206 promised in April to 145.

? The policing plan was inadequate and breached the duty of care owed to concert-goers, general public, MCD and staff.

? At no stage did gardai raise any objections to either MCD's event licence application or liquor licence application.

? No instruction was given to close down the on-site bars in the concert arena over concerns about excessive alcohol consumption.

? The volume of incidents at the entrance gate search areas and breaches in perimeter fence were due in no small part to failure of gardai to enforce the law.

? Some issues raised in the letter from Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan were both "factually incorrect and highly defamatory". MCD said it also left out many relevant facts and information.

? MCD said there was no evidence to suggest the concert site was unsuitable and that gardai failed to implement laws to deal with anti-social behaviour.

? At no stage were gardai refused access to CCTV, and no complaints were received about the fitness for purpose of the event control room.

? There was a serious lack of respect and disregard for gardai and security, which appeared to have been contributed to by gardai's "relaxed" policing.

I think MCD were better forgetting about the hole shambles and moving on than pointing the finger at the guards

leggo · 07-09-2012 11:59am

Yeah, very petty sounding from MCD. Ultimately, the Gardaí didn't decide to hold or ultimately profit from the event. It's ultimately MCD's responsibility to make sure that both Gardaí and security involved know what they're getting into and plan appropriately. But to appriopriately handle a messy gig like this in an open field would cost a ****load, so they scrimp and save and hope for the best.

Having said that, this kind of carry on is standard down at the likes of Oxegen. It's just out of sight, so out of mind. The fact that it was in a park still open to the general public, in the middle of Dublin, beside businesses and residential areas, is what has caused this storm.

It's a shame that MCD are still playing the blame game instead of sucking it up and realising that they'll need to pay the piper in future, tap into their profits, and improve if they want to run future events like this smoothly. Instead, their attitude tells us that we're left waiting for this to happen all over again at a later date.

antodeco · 07-09-2012 12:01pm

I drove through Phoenix park during the gig. There were people passed out sides of the road and on the roundabouts. The Gardai were just standing at the side of the road not doing anything. MCD didnt get their security to do a proper job. Failings on both sides in my opinion.

davet82 · 07-09-2012 12:01pm

leggo wrote: »

Yeah, very petty sounding from MCD. Ultimately, the Gardaí didn't decide to hold or ultimately profit from the event. It's ultimately MCD's responsibility to make sure that both Gardaí and security involved know what they're getting into and plan appropriately. But to appriopriately handle a messy gig like this in an open field would cost a ****load, so they scrimp and save and hope for the best.

Having said that, this kind of carry on is standard down at the likes of Oxegen. It's just out of sight, so out of mind. The fact that it was in a park still open to the general public, in the middle of Dublin, beside businesses and residential areas, is what has caused this storm.

It's a shame that MCD are still playing the blame game instead of sucking it up and realising that they'll need to pay the piper in future, tap into their profits, and improve if they want to run future events like this smoothly. Instead, their attitude tells us that we're left waiting for this to happen all over again at a later date.

that pretty much sums it up, great post

Benji1974 · 07-09-2012 1:14pm

Isn’t it the responsibility of the Gardai to police public events and maintain order?

To attempt to put the blame on the concert promoters was underhand and cowardly. Gardai management seem to have closed ranks, when it’s obvious that they failed to react to the worsening situation on the day.

I’m not surprised this event got out of hand. To see how badly the Gardai manage large events, just walk around the Croke Park area any Sunday, before and after a match and see the chaos (traffic and people). The Gardai on duty come across as very passive and unwilling to deal with what they deem minor law breaking, that’s how things can escalate.

Rather than blame the concert promoters they should concentrate on training. I'm glad to see someone stand up to them, they need to be challenged more.

irishgrover · 07-09-2012 1:25pm

I remember when I was a young one, there was a concept that the Gardai were there to enforce the law, and for the most part that is what they did.
It appears in this case that they observed the failing of the private security and then wrote a condeming report.

The point that they, and some here, appear to have forgotten is that, regardless of the uselessness of MCD security, it is still the responsibility of the gardai to uphold and enfore the law, and it would appear that they failed miserably....

bijapos · 07-09-2012 1:34pm

Gardai are responsible for what happens outside the event, MCD for what goes on inside, this means they are responsible for the violence inside the event. It's up to them to put on extra security to search bags and turn away drunk or drugged concert goers. On this side MCD failed miserably.

To be fair, when you want to organise a public event like this you are told how many Gardai need to be on duty on the day and you have to pay for them. It seems the only response is that for a similar gig with a similar potential audience profile, you just multiply the number of Gardai and ambulance at the last SHM gig by 2,3 or 4, have a zero tolerance policy and get the promoter to pay. They will ultimately have to charge more for tickets or accept less profit.

MCD are full of crap as well. Denis Desmond was on Morning Ireland this morning, stated that of the 50 videos on youtube from the SHM concert only 1 showed people having a "mud fight". No mention that it's not a mud fight but a few lads beating the heads off each other while security look on.

squod · 07-09-2012 1:51pm

Metal detectors next time or bleedin' mental detectors?

Garda Report - MCD blamed for violence at SHM gig

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