SEND IN THE ARMY!

With crowds of 500,000 pilgrims expected, fears grow that Dublin will crack under the pressure

‘Army should ferry people to the Mass’

AS PREPARATIONS intensify for one of the biggest logistical operations in the State, the Army is being drafted in to deal with the influx of hundreds of thousands of people into Dublin next weekend.

With 500,000 people attending the Mass in the Phoenix Park on Sunday next, gardaí, the Army, and a host of State authorities are preparing to accommodate the massive crowd.

While Met Éireann can’t accurately predict beyond a five-day forecast, the omens are good with expectations that the heavens won’t open over the weekend.

Nonetheless there will be more than a few prayers said that the event passes off seamlessly.

MCD Productions – usually associated with promoting artists such as U2 and Beyoncé – is behind the biggest ecclesiastical event Ireland has seen since the arrival of Pope John Paul II in 1979. For months, the company has been working on three core drawings of the event – which has undergone at least 100 revisions to date – an indication of the mammoth organisational task.

With 80,000 the maximum capacity of its previous events catering for 500,000 is a major challenge for the promoters.

Concerns have been raised about the ability of the authorities to cope with such pressure, particularly in terms of traffic, with some coach operators even withdrawing their services.

Former defence minister Willie O’Dea told the Irish Mail on Sunday that the Army must provide shuttle services for people attending the Papal Mass in the Phoenix Park.

He said that the Defence Forces need to publicise their plans in advance so that people, particularly elderly Mass-goers, can make appropriate plans.

It comes as the elderly and those with mobility issues have expressed fears about the distances they will have to walk on the day of the Papal Mass. Some have even offered to return their tickets on the basis that they will not be physically able to endure the hours of walking that the day will command.

‘The Army has the capacity to do this,’ said deputy O’Dea. ‘It has done it at previous events and if ever this service was needed, it’s needed now. Travelling on the back of an Army truck might not be the most salubrious way to arrive at the Papal Mass but it will do the job.’

The concerns of the elderly and infirm have not been allayed by the gardaí this week, who said that people attending the Mass should ‘treat it like a pilgrimage’.

‘Treat it as if you were going up the side of Croagh Patrick,’ said assistant Garda commissioner for Dublin Pat Leahy.

‘We are saying prepare for a long day because it is a pilgrimage that people are going on.’

In an effort to avoid traffic chaos, gardaí have repeatedly urged people to ‘leave their cars at home’ and avail of the increased public transport.

‘This is the largest event Ireland has organised in nearly 40 years,’ said Garda Superintendent Thomas Murphy. ‘It simply will not be possible to accommodate all the people who have indicated they want to travel by car to the Mass.

‘Therefore we are urging people to go by train, bus, coach or Luas to this event. While walking is inevitable, you will be minimising your walk to and from the event by taking public transport or private coaches.’

In response to a query from the MoS, the Army confirmed it would

be helping with the movement of people but failed to provide details.

‘The Defence Forces will be providing assistance to the Gardaí in a support role by assisting with the movement of patrons, assisting patrons with directions and assisting Gardaí in the event of an emergency,’ said a spokesperson. ‘As the full details of the tasks required is still being finalised, it is not possible to specify the exact numbers involved at this time.’

However, Mr O’Dea that details must be provided without delay.

‘It’s no use the Defence Forces issuing statements saying they’re going to help – they need to say how. They need to take out ads in local newspapers and local radio stations around the country advising people that there will be services to help ferry them to the Mass.

‘They need to say exactly what these services will be, how often they’ll run and from where to where.

‘If older people are cancelling their plans to attend because they think they won’t be able to walk the distances, the Army needs to let them know they’ll be there to help.

According to the organisers of the event some 12,000 staff will be required to be in the Phoenix Park by 6am on Sunday, while 2,000 people will distribute Holy communion. Other mind-blowing statistics for the day, include:

1,500 coaches will arrive from all around the country 360 buses will service seven dedicated transport hubs 2,500 on-site toilets 31,250 litres of milk for tea 25,000 sliced pans for sandwiches 1,000-plus medical providers150 food and drink outlets in 10 service areas