GARRYOWEN RUGBY Club has expressed concern after gardaí had to be called to a Junior Cert disco which descended into chaos after hundreds of extra students tried to gain access.
The alcohol-free disco at the rugby club in Limerick was organised by Dropzone Disco and had a capacity of 400 people.
The club said it had nothing to do with the organisation of the disco and only provided the venue.
A spokesman added, however, that the club was “gravely concerned” about what had occurred and committee members were planning to meet the event organiser.
A spokesman for Roxboro Garda station confirmed that noise was an issue and that a Garda presence was maintained in the area but he said there were no major incidents and no arrests were made.
However, angry parents claim that at least 300 extra teenagers arrived at the rugby ground seeking to gain access to the disco, which cost €15 a head.
Admission was granted on production of a coloured voucher, which organisers insist were distributed through the “normal channels”.
However, there were chaotic scenes less than an hour into the event, when a group of people forced their way into the disco and the music had to be stopped.
“After about 45 minutes the approximately 300 students who were locked out lost patience and started kicking in a side door.
“A large pane of glass was broken and the crowd started to spill in,” explained parent Trevor Hickey, whose daughter Caoimhe attended the disco.
“At this point the disco had to be stopped on advice from the gardaí.
“The security staff were unable to contain the situation and gardaí had to intervene,” he added.
Other parents complained of serious overcrowding and lack of crowd control.
One of the many callers to local radio station Live 95FM yesterday complained that her daughter returned home with a bloody nose after a fight broke out inside the hall.
In a statement issued yesterday Dropzone Disco insisted the number of coupons it printed was similar to previous events it has organised and claimed fake vouchers were in circulation.
“Regrettably, fake tickets were also in circulation. This created a difficulty in that the numbers seeking admission were in excess of the capacity of the hall.
“Once this became evident the Garda were contacted,” the statement read.
“Due to the large number seeking admission the disco was disrupted as a number forcibly entered the hall,” it continued.
“As a result patrons were disappointed. Dropzone wishes to sincerely apologise for this.
“It is not possible to ascertain with certainty the names of those who gained admission and paid the admission fee.
“A refund is the preferable option for those who paid at the door.
“To explore this option you are invited to send an e-mail to Dropzonediscos27@hotmail.com giving your name, address and contact number plus the name and address of the person from whom you received your ticket,” the statement concluded.