Stormont urged to probe alcohol access after drink-and-drugs incident

The Stormont Assembly has been urged to investigate how young children in Northern Ireland are able to access alcohol in the wake of a major incident outside a Belfast concert venue that saw 17 teenagers taken to hospital.

The episode unfolded when scores of heavily intoxicated children turned up to attend a rave event in the Odyssey Arena on the edge of the city centre last night.

Many were denied access to the venue, where Dutch electronic dance DJ Hardwell was playing, and the situation outside the building swiftly deteriorated, with medics, ambulance crews and charity volunteers providing first aid to more than 40 unwell young people.

A major incident was declared by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and in the city’s hospitals, where extra staff were called in to help.

Three of the teenagers admitted to hospital were subsequently discharged with the remainder expected to leave later today.

Colin Neill, chief executive of Pubs of Ulster which represents local bar owners, said: “Somewhere someone gave these kids alcohol I think it’s time to call an end to it.

“I think we need more than a police investigation, I think the Assembly need to get involved.”

Odyssey general manager Adrian Doyle said, as with any concert, the safety of patrons was an absolute priority at all times and the event control team was confident that it had sufficient staff on site to maintain a safe and enjoyable concert.

He said anyone who turned up to the event visibly drunk was not allowed in.

A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said: “We believe the majority arrived suffering from too much alcohol.”

He added a number of people were unconscious at the scene.

Dr Tony Stevens, medical director at the Belfast Health Trust, paid tribute to staff in the Royal Victoria and Mater hospitals that were involved in the response.

“We handled it very well,” he said.

“I am very grateful to the large numbers of specialist staff that came in, and indeed all the staff – we had everybody from telephone operators to portering staff who were helping.”