Garda to report on concert by end of month

SECURITY REVIEW:A REVIEW by An Garda Síochána and concert promoters MCD of the violence at last Saturday's Swedish House Mafia concert in the Phoenix Park is due to be completed by the end of the month.

The Garda Commissioner is expected to make recommendations about security for future concerts in the park as part of a report to be submitted to Minister for Justice Alan Shatter.

Although there have been calls for a ban on concerts at the venue, this is thought unlikely. However, recommendations for stricter security precautions, especially for dance acts likely to attract volatile elements, may result from the review.

Dublin City Council said yesterday no further concerts would be held in the park until last week’s events were reviewed at a meeting of the local joint policing committee in September. However, no applications have been received.

Next week’s concerts by Bruce Springsteen at the RDS have yet to receive the required licence, a spokesman for the council also said. The spokesman said he expected a licence to be issued on Monday – one day before the first concert. The public event licence for the most recent concerts in the Phoenix Park was granted just two days before the first of the events.

The Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the Phoenix Park, said it would take part in “debriefing meetings” with MCD, the Garda and relevant agencies after the promoters “decant” from the site.

Meanwhile, a 22-year-old man accused of stabbing a tourist at the concert was further remanded in custody yesterday.

On Monday, Raymond Donnan, with an address at Greenfort Crescent, Clondalkin, Dublin, was charged with a number of offences in connection with incidents at the outdoor gig, which was attended by about 45,000 people.

Mr Donnan is accused of assault causing harm to 28-year-old Andrew England – a tourist from the Isle of Man who suffered multiple stab wounds – as well as production of a knife in the course of a dispute, violent disorder, breach of the peace and being intoxicated in public, at the Phoenix Park, on July 7th.

At Cloverhill District Court, Mr Donnan, who has not yet entered pleas to the charges, was further remanded in custody by Judge David McHugh after he heard a file was being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, whose directions are still outstanding. He will appear again on August 3rd.