Gardaí to have community policing operation in place for Katie Taylor fight screening in Bray

By Darragh McCann, The Wicklow People

Gardaí will have a community-style policing operation in place in Bray on Saturday night, as up to 1,500 people are expected to follow Katie Taylor’s retirement fight at Croke Park via a big-screen event on the town’s seafront on September 5.

Taylor, who has won 19 world title fights during her professional career and is a two-weight undisputed world champion, has become one of Ireland’s most successful boxers. Her final fight against France’s Flora Pili will be screened live at Bray’s bandstand.

The 1,500-person event, which has been billed as a family-friendly, no-alcohol zone, will have private security in place on the night.

A senior Garda source explained that gardaí will take a similar approach to the Bray Air Display, in terms of a community-style policing operation.

Between six and seven gardaí from Bray Garda Station are expected to be in and around the venue.

It is believed that normal patrols from local stations will also be in place, as gardaí “are not expecting any anti-social behaviour”.

Event management company PlanetSound, the team also behind the Bray Air Display, said that risk assessments have been carried out ahead of the event, with organisers expecting the screening to remain “family friendly”, while the venue will be ticketed, wristbanded and “controlled”.

According to the PlanetSound website, the company provides comprehensive event control and production services, including “highly trained and experienced staff, who will ensure your event is secure and runs smoothly”.

Tickets to the fully-ticketed event sold out on Sunday, but it is understood that more tickets could potentially go on sale ahead of Saturday’s event.

A waitlist is in operation via Eventbrite and Wicklow County Council are urging people who are not intending to attend to cancel their booking on the ticketing website.

This action will free up a ticket for someone on the waitlist.

The fight will also be shown live on RTÉ2, with commentary also available on RTÉ’s 2FM radio.