Nine Stabbings At Dublin Park

Irish police arrested a 22-year-old on suspicion of stabbing four people as fights broke out at a Swedish House Mafia show in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

Raymond Donnan was to appear at the city’s Central Court July 9.

All three shows at the 35,000-capacity outdoor venue July 5-8 appear to have sparked a mini crime wave, resulting in 58 arrests and more than 110 charges being filed, mainly for public order, drunkenness and drug-related offenses.

The Saturday night looks to have been the worst, as MTV reported that one man was believed to have been responsible for stabbing four people, with the other incidents resulting from knife fights and broken bottles. Police said there were a “significant number of unprovoked attacks.”

One victim remains in hospital with four stab wounds to the back and kidneys, according to Hot Press magazine.

In an unrelated incident, another man in his early 20s died of a suspected drug overdose, although it wasn’t possible to get further detail at press time.

On the night there was a security crew totaling 511 and more than 145 police on duty.

On July 10 An Garda Siochana, the local police, met with promoter MCD to start a full review of what happened. They released a statement that made it clear that neither party will make further comment until it’s been carried out.

Further meetings will be held in the context of lessons learned and orientation for future concerts of this nature. The Garda Commissioner will prepare a report for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence when he’s received the review.

“We played a festival in Ireland at the weekend and reports of incidents are coming to us,” said a statement on the Swedish House Mafia website. “We didn’t see anything but have asked for all the info and are respectful of the promoter’s need to wait and give us all the clear facts.

“The festival itself was amazing and we had no idea this had happened and neither did the other numerous artists who played. Once we know all the facts we will deal with it in the best way we can.”

MCD earlier told the Irish media that all the appropriate security measures were in place.

“Ticket holders entering the site were subject to a search permissible by law,” a company spokesman said. “Every precaution as far as possible was taken to ensure the safety and security of the audience at all times.”