PHA would be ‘open to considering’ concert drug testing

The Public Health Agency (PHA) “would be open to considering” drug testing at concerts and festivals, a director at the organisation has said.

It comes after police issued a warning about upcoming music events and said they were committed to “tackling the illegal supply and use of illicit drugs”.

They are investigating the deaths of two young people following the Emerge dance festival in Belfast last weekend, but have not commented on whether their investigations involve a drugs link.

At the Electric Picnic festival in the Republic of Ireland this weekend, the Health Service Executive said teams would offer free and confidential back-of-house drug checking for analysis.

Charities in England offer a similar service at events and gigs.

However the PHA’s Director of Public Health, Dr Joanne McClean, said drug testing is not something the organisation could carry out by themselves as there would be a number of legal issues to resolve.

“There are legislative elements to this, there are licencing elements and there are resourcing issues as well,” she told BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme.

She added: “The police in their statement about the event have reminded people that being caught in possession of drugs is a crime and they will prosecute it.”

Dr McClean did not comment on specific drugs deaths, but said “in general terms” if the police or other organisations are “aware of a substance or something that has caused the death or harm to people that could impact other people, we would expect that they would make the Public Health Agency aware of it and other partners”.

“From a public health point of view, from my point of view, from the Agency’s point of view we would much prefer that people didn’t take illegal drugs, didn’t take substances they didn’t know what they are, it carries a risk,” Dr McClean added.

Professor Fiona Meashem, is founder of the drug checking charity The Loop, which offers drug testing services at festivals in other parts of the UK.

“I think very quickly people became very trusting of The Loop, which was great to see,” Professor Meashem said.

“We were clear that we’re not working directly to either the police or public health, or to the festival.

“But we’re there to reduce harm on site.”

She said there is a lab on site with chemists “who will rapidly test what’s in circulation” and “get that information out”.

“But also importantly, we have healthcare professionals on site, doctors and nurses, and they’re the ones who can translate the chemistry, if you like, directly to the general public and to be putting out messages which are accurate and true,” Professor Meashem added.

A police investigation is underway into the deaths of two young people who had attended the Emerge dance music festival in Belfast at the weekend.

Mia Keevan, 17, from County Tipperary became unwell at the event and died shortly afterwards in hospital.

In a separate incident, 24-year-old Trae Keenan, from County Down, died in rented accommodation in the city centre a few hours after the event ended.

Mia was visiting Belfast from Carrick-on-Suir to attend the event.

Investigations are still continuing into what caused her death.

Belfast district commander Supt Allister Hagan said: “During the event it was reported that a 17-year-old girl had become unwell. Sadly, she subsequently died in hospital.”

Mr Keenan also attended the festival and took unwell and died after he returned to his rented accommodation in Belfast.

He worked as a chef and had a four-month-old son.

The Irish News reported Mr Keenan had previously suffered from heart complications and asthma.

The family told the newspaper he had suffered a panic attack and his death was not linked to drugs.

Police are still investigating both deaths and said a number of arrests were made over the weekend.

Some Belfast councillors have expressed frustration at what have they said is a lack of information from the PHA following the deaths at the weekend.

Belfast City Council officers met the organisers of Emerge and other key stakeholders on Wednesday for a “de-brief”.

On Thursday Alliance Party councillor, Micky Murray, told BBC News NI it was “incredibly disappointing” that the PHA had not made themselves available to discuss recent events.

Murray said this had allowed speculation over the deaths of the two young people and for the “narrative to be controlled by social media”.

He said health and safety is important, especially as other large festivals and events take place across Belfast.

Green Party councillor Brian Smyth echoed Murray’s views and said the lack of communication from the PHA has “fuelled online speculation and created a vacuum” on how safe events are and what is being done to keep people safe.

“This comes in light of information released by the Electric Picnic festival in the Republic for people to be aware of high potency MDMA that is in circulation,” Smyth added.

In a statement organisers said they were “saddened by the death of Mia Keevan and offer our sincerest condolences to her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time”.

“We are fully engaging with all the relevant stakeholders and statutory bodies, providing as much information and assistance as required.

“The safety and wellbeing of everyone attending our events remains our highest priority.

“We will not be making any further comment while the police investigation remains ongoing.”

Emerge music festival is the biggest dance music event in Northern Ireland.

It usually takes place over the August bank holiday weekend at Boucher Playing Fields in south Belfast and attracts crowds of about 40,000 dance music fans each day.

This year the festival was headlined by Fatboy Slim on Saturday and Bicep on Sunday, while Sammy Virji, Fjaak, Sonny Fodera and Danny Howard were also on the line up.