"the illegal organising of a dance in a public place"

national | arts and media | news report

Monday June 21, 2004 23:51

by raver

"Gardai call halt to beach raves"

not harming anyone

Gardai call halt to beach raves
Richard Oakley and Scott Millar
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1151254,00.html

GARDAI have launched a clampdown on illegal raves following a series
of
outdoor parties along the east coast of the country.

An investigation has been launched after one gathering in Killiney in
Dublin two weeks ago attracted a crowd of more than 500 people and a
second one planned for Dalkey island last weekend was foiled at the
last minute by gardai.

The Killiney party, which featured live DJs, was held on a secluded
cove known as White Rock, about 10 miles south of Dublin. Up to 30
gardai, with helicopter backup, took more than three hours to disperse
the crowd.

The police were notified after locals on the exclusive Vico Road
complained about noise. When gardai arrived on the scene, they found a
rave in full swing with generators providing power for music
equipment.
Some of those who attended described the police reaction as
heavy-handed.

The Dalkey event was stopped last week after gardai intercepted groups
of people trying to make their way to a dock from which boats could be
taken to the island, about a quarter of a mile offshore.

It is understood that similar parties also have taken place on
Donabate
strand in Dublin and possibly Bettystown beach in Co Meath.

The parties are highly organised, with buses running to the venues
from
the city centre, and their location and time spread among dance fans
through internet chatrooms and by text message. The venues for the
raves, which are generally peaceful events, are always kept secret
until shortly before they begin.

Such organised beach parties first emerged in Dublin about two years
ago and were simply monitored by gardai. However, following a number
of
parties in the Devil's Glen Wood, Roundwood, and Brittas Bay, all in
Co
Wicklow, gardai started to clamp down. At one party, attended by over
1,000 people, four people were arrested. Three were charged with
criminal damage and one with organising illegal activity.

One garda source in Dublin said the gardai were now planning to
interview the alleged organisers of the Killiney party and possibly
prosecute them.

"These parties break a number of laws. They involve illegal outdoor
drinking, the illegal organising of a dance in a public place, and
they
are in breach of the public order act. They are dangerous for those
attending, noisy and anti-social."

He said that in most cases those attending did not cause
trouble. "They
are generally decent people. Our main concern is for their safety. At
the party in Killiney, they were going up and down these dangerous
steps, and they were hanging around on cliffs. If something happened,
we would be blamed for not stopping it," he said.

One person who attended the Killiney party complained that the gardai
were "over the top". Another person who regularly attends these beach
parties said they generally passed off without any difficulties.