Joan Burton TD, Minister for Social Protection, today (10^th July)  said that what happened in the Phoenix Park on Saturday was “totally unacceptable.’’

Minister Burton said she wished to express her condolences to the families of the dead. She also extended her sympathies to all the injured people and their families.

She said that people who had set out to have a nice summer’s day shouldn’t have been subjected to the scenes which met them in the Phoenix Park at the weekend.

The Minister said she will be in touch with the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter and Brian Hayes, Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, about the events in the park on Saturday and will ask for a thorough investigation.

“There will have to be a very detailed examination of the procedures in relation to holding concerts in the Phoenix Park and whether it is an appropriate venue for such concerts,’’ she said.

“Serious questions need to be asked about whether there was sufficient security at the event,’’ she continued.

“I saw the excessive intake of alcohol on Saturday as I was in the Castleknock and Navan Road areas myself. I also noticed that some very young people appeared to have been drinking heavily. The debris left behind made that very clear. I am also concerned about reports of other substances being abused’’

“It is interesting that the atmosphere at the other events held in the Phoenix Park over the weekend was entirely different as they attracted a more mature audience,’’

she added.

“The nature of Saturday’s event was clearly unsuitable to the Park, whereas the other events over the weekend were not problematic.’’