Promoters of the Oxegen summer music festival have confirmed that a Garda inquiry is ongoing into an alleged sexual assault during the weekend of the festival staged at Punchestown Racecourse, Co Kildare, last month.
"There is one case of an alleged sexual assault that gardaí are currently investigating which was reported to Naas gardaí on Monday, July 10th," according to a statement released by MCD productions. "MCD will provide every assistance that may be required to aid such an investigation."
The promoters also confirmed that 23 tents had been set on fire. "[ Most] of the 23 tents were set on fire by their owners when leaving the site early Monday morning, rather than taking them home. All fires were quickly extinguished.
The majority of tents that were set on fire by their owners were those that can be purchased from €14.95 from high street stores," the statement said.
Some 80,000 people attended Oxegen each day and 70,000 of those camped out. MCD said there had been 50 arrests, not 500 as reported by one newspaper over the weekend. MCD also said there had been no rioting over the weekend.
Naas gardaí made 386 drug detections, the statement continued, and 49 music fans were taken to hospital.
Denis Desmond, MCD's managing director, said: "With all major events, there are always a number of lessons to be learned. Anti-social behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated at any MCD event . . .
"Our security team along with the Garda will provide all appropriate protections and those individuals found to have caused any unnecessary distress for other customers will be dealt with appropriately."