Belfast Dance Festival Deaths Spark Police Investigation and Safety Concerns

Police are continuing investigations following two deaths and several medical emergencies linked to the Emerge dance music festival in Belfast, which drew tens of thousands of attendees over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Two Tragic Deaths Reported

Seventeen-year-old Mia Keevan, from County Tipperary, became unwell at the festival site at Boucher Road Playing Fields on 24 August. Despite being taken to hospital, she later died. Her family described her as “a girl with big dreams and an even bigger heart.”

In a separate incident, Trae Keenan, a father-of-one from Castlewellan in his 20s, also died after attending the event. He reportedly suffered a panic attack which led to a cardiac arrest at an apartment in Belfast after leaving the festival. His family stressed that his death was not drug-related but due to an underlying medical emergency.

Other Medical Incidents

Police confirmed that others also became seriously ill during the festival.

• A woman in her 30s remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

• A teenage boy is also receiving treatment but is expected to make a full recovery.

Police and Council Response

The PSNI has launched enquiries into both deaths and the related medical incidents. Seven arrests were made during the festival, although authorities have not confirmed whether these are connected to the health emergencies.

Belfast City councillors, including Alliance Party’s Micky Murray, have called for urgent talks with event organisers to review safety protocols, medical provision, and crowd management to prevent further tragedies.

Remembering the Victims

Tributes have poured in for both victims. A fundraiser in memory of Mia Keevan has raised more than €17,000, with her family requesting that mourners wear bright colours to her funeral in celebration of her life.

Friends and family of Trae Keenan remembered him as a “cherished father, son and partner” whose sudden loss has left his community devastated.

Ongoing Investigations

Authorities are now working to establish whether environmental, medical, or logistical factors played a role in these tragedies. Attention is also turning to the adequacy of emergency response measures at the festival.

The deaths have sparked wider conversations about festival safety in Northern Ireland, with both families and officials calling for lessons to be learned.

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