The Rolling Stones concert in Dublin will not go ahead, the High Court heard today.
The news came during a court appearance involving music promoters MCD, who were challenging the decision of the Office of Public Works (OPW) to give permission to rival firm Aiken Promotions to stage the gig on August 18th.
At the High Court, senior counsel Jim O'Callaghan, representing the OPW, said he had been informed by Aiken Promotions that the concert would not be going ahead because the Rolling Stones would not be performing in the Phoenix Park.
He said the OPW had no idea why the concert was not going ahead. "Our client will be seeking an explanation as to the reason behind the decision," he said.
Senior counsel Maurice Collins, representing MCD said it appears the contract with the Rolling Stones hadn't materialised and that the band were now going to play in Spain on the date that had been arranged for the Phoenix Park.
He said MCD had made it clear it was not going to seek to have the contract for the concert restrained and had not been informed that there were any difficulties with it until now.
MCD had argued that the decision to award the tender for the concert to Aiken Promotions had breached EU law and government procurement policy.
The OPW had been seeking an early hearing of the case so that the preparations for the concert would not be disrupted.
The president of the High Court, Judge Joseph Finnegan, agreed with both sides that the cancellation of the concert meant that there was no urgency for the case to be heard quickly. He put the case in for mention on April 7th.
PA