Dublin's thrashing of Roscommon at the weekend was as routine as it gets, but one of the storylines to emerge out of the match on Saturday evening is the unhappiness of some Dublin fans standing on Hill 16 about search procedures on the way into Croke Park.
Anyone who regularly attends Croke Park will be familiar with the search policy for patrons who bring bags with them into the Hogan or Cusack stands. Compared to search measures in other countries and indeed other Irish sports (you can't bring a backpack into an Ireland rugby match at the Aviva for instance), Croke Park is relatively hands-off. Some Dublin fans however were not pleased by the level of security on the way into the Hill on Saturday, which included the presence of gardaí and Frontline security.
A lot of people who were on The Hill this evening have contacted me upset at the personal searches they were subjected to. Bag searches are the norm now but it seems patrons of The Hill were the only ones subjected to personal searches. Could @CrokePark enlighten them as to why?
— AllGAA (@AllGaa_) July 20, 2019
Barry Fennell of the Hill 16 Army reached out to Croke Park and received a reply from Croke Park Stadium Manager Peter McKenna, which he published on Facebook. McKenna confirmed that security has been increased but says it is not targeted strictly at Dublin fans. You can read all of McKenna's letter below:
In his response, McKenna expresses Croke Park's 'concern' about a spike in Hill 16 contraband, namely drink.
At recent matches, we have become increasingly concerned by a large increase in prohibited items, especially alcohol presenting in the Hill, both during the matches and from the post-match sweeps.
The increased security was a conscious response to the issue, and McKenna also says he was surprised by the amount of confiscated items.
Yesterday, I observed the searches and I was astounded with the huge level of prohibited items identified at the search areas.
He also says that this level of security is being extended to fans of all counties not just Dublin.
Please be assured that this is not just a Dublin issue.
The Hill16 page say underneath the letter that they won't be engaging any further with Croke Park on the issue.
I have thought about it but it honestly achieves nothing so I won't be wasting my time. I tried it with the barrier on The Hill issue but when it came to the crunch there was little support from supporters I spent my weekend and today contacting Croke Park on behalf of supporters and got an explanation for everyone. Whether you agree or disagree with the reply from Croke Park, they've made up their minds and given an explanation and it won't change unless enough supporters actually do something about it.
Dublin fans seem on the Hill16 page seem unconvinced by McKenna's reply. Louise Walsh wrote:
We've been subject to a quick bag search for years on the hill.. While other parts were not checked..the plastic bottle of water they took off the girl next to me is no more of a weapon or threat than that statue the mayo individual brought in... Do u think if we brought a child of Prague into the hill that the lovely security personnel of front line would let us tru the styles???
What happened on Saturday was a lot more invasive.. Rummaging tru a small pocket in a bag, used for carrying loose change..all contents poured onto a table.. How big are the cans/bottles they are looking for??
Can we get confirmation that front line are security for the entire ground or just the hill as rumoured.
