The Blame Game

Concert promoters MCD issued a report yesterday criticising the gardaí's role at the recent Swedish House Mafia gig.

The July 7 concert, held at the Phoenix park in Dublin, was marred by violence and anti-social behaviour. Seven people were stabbed at the event, 40 were treated in emergency departments, more than 30 arrests were made for knife attacks, public order offences, drug possession and drug dealing and two men who attended the concert later died of suspected drug overdoses.

Accusing them of 'ineffective policing', MCD claimed gardaí did not enforce the law within the Phoenix Park and failed to control public drunkenness outside the venue. The concert promoters further claim that a risk assessment carried out on April 16 stipulated that the Swedish House Mafia concert should be policed by 206 gardaí, however, that number was reduced to 149 and, on the day, there were only 145 personnel on duty.

The report is a response to a letter sent by Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, to Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, outlining the gardaí's response to the events.

Mr Callinan, of course, was quick to point the finger of blame at MCD. He said the Phoenix Park was not a suitable place for a concert such as the Swedish House Mafia, the concert promoters 'did not have appropriate security measures in place' and stewards were not given clear instructions on how to eject drunken fans.

In the days following the incident, Voice of Ireland coach Bressie took an altogether different tack and put the troublemakers' parents at fault.

'We have this thing in Ireland that our first port of call is that someone is to blame on a bigger level or society is to blame . . . If it happens and your kids are out doing it, a massive part of the blame lies with the parents and that's just the way it has to be.'

Ultimately, the only people responsible for the instigators' behaviour are the instigators themselves. Fuelled by drink and drugs, it's easy to see how things escalated, and both MCD and the gardaí must realise this.

It's time for the feuding parties to call off the blame game and instead focus on implementing more stringent security measures for future gigs.