Things got heated at a recent Guns N’ Roses gig in Dublin, as filmmaker, JJ Rolfe, was charged to the ground by a security man amid a row over access to the VIP area. The incident has since gone viral on social media, with many people weighing in on who was in the right and who was in the wrong. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the incident and the aftermath, and share some thoughts on what it all means for concert security going forward.
A filmmaker was involved in an altercation with a security man at a Guns N’ Roses concert in Dublin last year, where he was accused of charging the security man to the ground in a row over admittance to the VIP area. Kevin Treacy, 36, believed that the security officer had been too rough with his girlfriend; he pushed him into a crash barrier during the gig. The US rock band performed their best hits such as “Welcome to the Jungle” at Marlay Park where the assault took place.
Dublin District Court heard that gardai were on duty when Treacy assaulted the security officer at 9:45 pm on June 28 last year. The victim had been working at the pit entrance when Treacy and his girlfriend tried to gain entry to the VIP area with a bracelet that was “not correct.” When they were refused entry to the VIP area, Treacy “charged” the security man, causing him to fall into the crash barrier; he fell to the ground with the barrier. Treacy was reported to have been acting aggressively and was arrested at the scene by gardai.
The judge, Anthony Halpin, struck the case out, sparing Treacy a criminal record after he paid €500 to charity. Halpin stated that there was a “degree of provocation” and “some of these security officers can be a little bit too gung ho.” Treacy was charged with assault and threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, to which he pleaded guilty. The victim did not suffer any lasting injuries; Treacy had no previous convictions.
The security guard had taken issue with Treacy and his girlfriend because their wristband was not the appropriate one for the VIP area. The concert was not sold out, and VIP area wristbands were being given to anyone who wanted them. Treacy’s girlfriend’s wristband became unattached, and while two of the guards took no issue with this, the third guard approached the couple and refused them entry. Treacy believed that this specific guard was “particularly rough” with his girlfriend and attempted to de-escalate the situation. However, the security guard aggressively threw away the wristband, and as a result, Treacy pushed him.
Treacy stated that he saw the CCTV footage of what happened, and he was ashamed of his actions and remembered it as an act of self-defence. His lawyer argued that Treacy was a man of good character who worked as a director at a film post-production company, asking the judge for leniency.
This case sheds light on the issue of aggression from security officials towards concertgoers, which may cause concern among patrons of concerts and events. It also highlights the importance of adhering to security measures put in place for the safety of all attendees. While some security officials may be over-enthusiastic and forceful in carrying out their duties, it is essential to maintain composure, especially in situations that could escalate quickly. The judge’s decision to strike out the case on the condition that Treacy made a payment to charity can also be perceived as a lenient approach, which could have been harsher in different circumstances.
In conclusion, this incident emphasizes the importance of restraint and the need to seek a peaceful resolution as opposed to violent confrontation. Concert organisers must train security officials to exercise restraint while carrying out their duties to prevent altercations such as the one that occurred between Kevin Treacy and the security guard at the Guns N’ Roses concert in Dublin. This incident also highlights the need to enforce crowd control measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all attendees at events.
In conclusion, this incident is a stark reminder of how tensions can ignite at large-scale events, even with a high-profile artist like Guns N’ Roses performing. As security measures become increasingly restrictive in the wake of recent terror attacks around the world, it’s important for everyone involved to remain calm and level-headed in order to ensure the safety of all attendees. Hopefully, both the filmmaker and the security man involved in this altercation will learn from the incident and work towards finding a more peaceful resolution in the future.
