Last week, as the city geared up for the UEFA Europa League final between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen, Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) and OCS security services were busy implementing increased security measures to ensure the safety and smooth transit of the large crowds expected at the Aviva Stadium.
The team had been working closely with Iarnród Éireann for over two months assisting and advising on the development of a comprehensive security plan to manage the influx of thousands of European football fans.
Our security colleagues play an essential role in assisting with crowd control measures and managing the flow of spectators in stations and onboard trains, which is vital for the safety of all attendees using the train services on match days. The key to a successful matchday for both Iarnrod Eireann and OCS is close collaboration with various stakeholders, and listening to their views, concerns and suggestions.
Last weeks success was the result of this collaboration. Our transport security team are experienced and trained to manage any situation that might arise, and last weeks deployment was the perfect example of ensuring passenger safety through correct crowd control processes.
The matchday operation commenced around 3 pm following a final brief, as pictured, with the customer and senior management, with passenger volumes starting to noticeably increase closer to 5 pm. We deployed an additional 22 static officers across several stations in the Lansdown area to ensure smooth access and egress, and to assist with station bag searches where required. Additionally, we increased our onboard presence by 25% to tackle any potential anti-social behaviour and confiscate any open alcoholic beverages.
As with many large-scale sporting events, local councils working in conjunction with Iarnrod Eireann and An Garda Síochána had implemented essential matchday practices, including traffic restrictions and the closure of Landsdown Road station as an added safety precaution due to the very different spectator profiles in attendance. An Garda Síochána had put in place a comprehensive security plan for the UEFA Europa League Final, that included a significant presence of uniformed security personnel, along with specialist units.
Fortunately, there were no incidents reported and by all accounts provided by our security team, both sets of fans were incredibly well-behaved and fully enjoyed the night and the atmosphere. For our team, this meant a short debrief at midnight before heading home after a truly successful night.
Hosting prestigious events such as the Europa League Final is an honour for Dublin City, and it’s an event that residents look forward to hosting and welcoming football fans from around the world. This is why ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees is of the utmost importance and our team of dedicated security personnel are always glad to play their part in making it a success.