Tipperary teenage charity night is cancelled due to safety concerns

It is understood that a number of students suffered minor injuries after a teenage charity ball had to be cancelled over the weekend when nearly double the number of young people turned up than could be catered for at the event.

Gardaí had to be called to the event at Kilcoran Lodge Hotel, outside Cahir, that had to be cancelled within 30 minutes.

A teenage youth suffered a minor head injury and another youth was treated for excess alcohol consumption by ambulance personnel. 

The ball for 3rd Year and Transition Year students attracted teenagers from all over the county. Bus loads of young people travelled from as far a field as Clonmel, Cashel and Thurles to the event. 

It's believed students from a Thurles based secondary school organised the social and intended the proceeds from the event to be donated to Pieta House suicide and self harm prevention centre. Kilcoran Lodge Hotel management was not involved in organising the event. 

A Cahir Garda Station spokesman said the hotel had capacity to accommodate about 400. It's believed more than 300 official tickets were sanctioned but around double that number of teenagers turned up. 

The hotel cancelled the event due to safety concerns and the gardai and ambulance were called to the hotel. 

The Garda spokesman also confirmed that a window of a door at the hotel was damaged along with a soap dispenser in a toilet but he stressed that there were no row or melee. The atmosphere was generally fine and the vast majority of the young people were well behaved. 

He pointed out the  hotel bar did not serve any alcohol to the young people, who turned up for the event. Any alcohol they consumed was sourced elsewhere. 

He said the gardai were called to the hotel at 8.20pm and remained at the scene for three and a half hours until everyone had been collected and brought home. 

The Garda spokesman said there was an onus on parents leaving teenage children at social events to ensure they will be in safe care for that night. 

Bus drivers also had a responsibility of care towards the teenagers they transport to these events.