A 23-year-old man appeared at a Dublin court on Monday as the full extent of the carnage at a Phoenix Park concert came to light after three drug related deaths and multiple stabbings.
The sell-out Saturday night gig, by the dance act Swedish House Mafia, withSnoop Dogg as support act, resulted in the three drug related deaths and nine stabbings.
The Irish Sun reports that the concert descended into chaos as thugs in the 45,000 strong crowd ran riot.
Over 30 arrests were made on the night. A police source told the paper: “Some lunatic was stabbing people in the back before walking back to his pals and watching as the victims slumped to the floor.”
An off-duty policeman arrested the suspect charged with the majority of the nine knife-related attacks, which have left one victim fighting for his life.
Police are also trying to establish the exact cause of death in the three cases following the concert.
The paper reports that Shane Brophy, 21, from County Laois, died five hours after attending the concert.
A second man died after he was rushed to a local hospital after seeking medical attention at the concert.
The report states that the third deceased is a man ejected from the concert after he was caught in a toilet with a syringe in his arm.
He was found dead close to a pub in Blanchardstown after collapsing a number of hours after the gig.
Police have ordered toxicology tests but believe all three deaths are due to drug overdoses.
Promoter Denis Desmond said his MCD company was ‘very disappointed’ with the behaviour of some of the revellers at the gig which also featured Calvin Harris and Tinie Tempah.
Detectives are still trying to identify one of the dead men.
A statement read: “Gardai(police) at Blanchardstown Garda Station are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in his early 20s.
“At approximately 7pm a man attending a music event in Phoenix Park became ill and sought medical attention from staff at the concert venue.
“He was removed by ambulance to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown where he was later pronounced dead. Gardai have not been able to identify this man and are asking family and friends to check that loved ones have arrived home safely from the event.”
A separate statement appealed for witnesses to the stabbings.
A spokesman said: “The victims were all male and were all aged in their late teens or 20s. A number of the victims required treatment at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown and three people continue to be treated at the hospital.
“Gardai continue to appeal for witnesses to any of the incidents Local councillor Mary Fitzpatrick has warned such concerts may have to be banned in the Phoenix Park.
She said: “I will ask the Office of Public Works and the event organisers to attend the next meeting of the local policing forum to answer and address concerns from the local community.
“It might be necessary to consider an outright ban on concerts of this type in the Phoenix Park.”
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