Just one festival motorist failed drink test
Tom Brady and Jason O'Brien
OXEGEN fans who drove to the festival in Punchestown at the weekend had no problem with being breathalysed.
Gardai carried out 2,000 breath-tests on motorists on their way to the Co Kildare venue, but only one driver produced a positive result.
"And that incident took place well away from the festival," a senior garda officer said last night.
A further 1,500 motorists were being breath-tested at roadblocks yesterday as fans made their way home.
But gardai at Punchestown reported that most of those who were driving did not leave the site until midday and had slept off any effects from the night before.
At least half of the fans opted to use the park-and-ride facilities, while thousands took advantage of the comprehensive bus service laid on.
Last night, senior garda officers said that, apart from a few serious incidents, the festival had been relatively trouble-free.
And they paid tribute to the 70,000 campers and several thousand day-trippers.
The officer in charge of the operation, Chief Supt Michael Byrnes, said: "I want to thank the young people who came to Punchestown. They behaved impeccably".
Justin Green, of promoters MCD, added: "We're delighted with the success of the event and, at the end of the day, that's down to the fans. We're looking forward to 2009.
"We left the sites open so that people could get a coffee or sleep in, or whatever, as we're conscious of the fact that we don't want drink-driving," he said.
However, more than 40 people were arrested on suspicion of drug-trafficking over the weekend. And over 500 punters were detained for possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use.
Undercover
This year gardai mounted a huge undercover exercise to tackle the drug dealers and more than 100 plainclothes personnel were deployed around the racetrack.
This resulted in a number of substantial drug seizures, including several hauls in excess of 500 ecstasy tablets.
One undercover officer was assaulted as he disrupted a drug deal on Friday night and was taken to Naas hospital where he received stitches for a head wound.
Two men and two women, from Northern Ireland, were arrested in connection with the assault.
Investigations into two separate allegations of rape at Punchestown are still continuing and files will be prepared for the DPP.
