FANS ATTENDING next week’s David Guetta concert at Marlay Park have been warned of heightened security restrictions, including tough measures to tackle excessive drinking.
Gardaí said they will invoke the Public Order Act in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the violent scenes that marred the Swedish House Mafia concert in the Phoenix Park.
Gardaí will have powers to confiscate unopened containers of alcohol if they suspect those carrying the drink intend to consume it at the concert. Fans may face arrest if they are found loitering or do not disperse as ordered in an area within a 1.5km radius of the park.
Gardaí will also board coaches heading to the concert to warn fans they will not be admitted if drunk.
Plainclothes gardaí will carry out surveillance on shuttle buses to the show and sniffer dogs and plainclothes gardaí will operate inside and outside the park to catch drug dealers.
Gardaí will have extra powers for three events at the park next week, but are targeting only the August 24th Guetta event. Some 22,000 fans are expected.
The other two concerts feature Kasabian and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds on August 23rd, and Van Morrison and Tom Jones on August 25th.
Supt David Taylor stressed it was important fans knew the area would be vigorously policed.
He said lessons had been learned from the Swedish House Mafia concert on July 7th, when there were widespread reports of fans drinking on the street before the concert and accessing the concert when drunk.
Supt Peter Duff said he had signed an order giving gardaí extra powers of search and arrest.
“People found in an intoxicated state, carrying alcohol or acting in any kind of anti-social behaviour will be dealt with by gardaí on the day and will be arrested if necessary,” he said.
