Owner of Website Attributes Non-Existent Dublin Halloween Parade Listing to ‘Mistake’

The proprietor of a website based in Pakistan, which disseminated information about a Halloween parade in Dublin that did not exist, has stated that the incident was “a mistake, it was not a joke, it was not a scam”. On Thursday, hundreds of individuals assembled on O’Connell Street in Dublin city centre, anticipating the parade, only to find no police or event staff present. Subsequently, Gardaí, the Irish police force, issued a statement confirming that no Halloween parade was scheduled and instructed those who had gathered to “disperse safely”. The owner of the website conveyed to BBC News NI: “We are highly embarrassed and ashamed and we are really sorry about it, that because of us people wasted their time and money.” The public’s attendance was prompted by a listing initially published on a website named ‘myspirithalloween.com’. This website features event listings for Halloween celebrations in Ireland and various other nations. According to the owner, the website operates from Pakistan, and the problem arose when a writer, utilizing a listing from a past parade, was “unaware” that the event would not be held this year. After the article was published, the owner noted that it rapidly gained traction, going “viral” on TikTok and Instagram, even though the website itself did not disseminate it on its proprietary social media channels. He stated: “No one in Ireland informed us that this parade was not going to happen. “If they told us before the evening we would have removed it.” The owner confirmed that the article was promptly taken down once the website received notification that the parade would not proceed. “Our intentions are very pure, we tried our best to give authentic content.” He further added: “It was a genuine mistake and we’re accepting it, we’re not running from it.” Bertie Brosnan, a social media content creator and filmmaker, attended the location with the intention of livestreaming the event. “I looked at the website and I thought it was legit.” Bertie informed BBC News NI: “I was duped.” Upon Mr. Brosnan’s arrival, he swiftly recognized that the parade was not taking place. He explained that it rapidly became apparent to him “because parades usually have barricades, security, police and some sort of organisation,” and he observed no such indications, only “vast amounts of people.” A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána stated that the incident would not be subject to investigation, as “no criminal offences were disclosed.” “An Garda Síochána advises that members of the public always verify any information online regarding upcoming events from trusted and reputable sources. “Public information on major events including traffic management, transport and public safety advice is often available on the Garda website, Dublin City Council website and from other relevant stakeholders,” the spokesperson further advised. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.