Leeds Festival founder's tearful words to parents of boy who died taking ecstasy
The founder of Leeds Festival became emotional in court today as he spoke to the parents of a 16-year-old boy who died after taking ecstasy at the event.
David Celino, 16, died in hospital after falling ill at the festival in August last year, having taken MDMA.
Melvin Benn told David’s parents, who were sitting just a few feet in front of him at Wakefield Coroner’s Court, of his "genuine sorrow" at their son’s death.
The managing director of Festival Republic became visibly upset and had to take a few moments to compose himself, before he revealed that he had lost a nephew to drugs.
He told the court that David’s death had “taken an emotional toll on myself and all of my staff, no question about that”.
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Melvin Benn told David’s parents of his 'genuine sorrow' at Wakefield Coroner’s Court (PA)The inquest heard that David had gone to the festival, which attracts more than 90,000 people every summer to Bramham Park, near Leeds, along with five friends from their homes in Worsley, Greater Manchester, in August last year.
He became ill after taking ecstasy - which his group bought from a dealer in the Camping Plus area of the festival - and died after being taken to hospital in Leeds. Earlier this week, David’s father, Gianpiero Celino, told the inquest of his concerns that unaccompanied youngsters are left prey to drug dealers who operate like “the child catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” due to lax security.
Mr Benn also told the inquest he does not believe unaccompanied 16 and 17-year-olds should be banned from the event despite his death. He said to the hearing on Wednesday: “It’ll be no surprise to know that I don’t believe that there should be a bar on 16- or 17-year-olds.”
He said there is no such prohibition at any major festival in the UK, including Glastonbury, and the coroner discussed with him some of the practical difficulties of such a move. Melvin Benn said he believes 16-year-olds should be able to buy alcohol, but that the current law prohibiting alcohol sales for under-18s is rigidly applied at the festival.
Gianpiero Celino (right), the father of David Celino, said unaccompanied youngsters are left prey to 'child catcher' drug dealers (PA)Mr Benn was asked by senior coroner Kevin McLoughlin about Mr Celino’s belief that “predatory” drug dealers targeting teenagers is a “foreseeable risk”. He replied: “Somehow Mr Celino’s evidence really pulled it into focus. It struck home.”
Mr Benn, who also organises the Reading Festival and a number of others around the country, said: “They (teenagers) do have naivety. They do have a false sense of security. And that was put into focus by Mr Celino. I have never had that focus. It’s never been quite as clear as it was yesterday.”
He said this year’s festival, which starts next week, will have a much more visible security and help presence. The inquest has heard that it is estimated around 20% of festival attendees are 16 and 17-year-olds, and Mr Benn said he was putting more sophisticated systems in place this year to give an accurate picture of this data, using ID and wristbands.
The coroner allowed a break in proceedings on Wednesday afternoon to allow Mr Benn to meet with David’s parents before he had to leave Wakefield.
The inquest heard that Festival Republic had drafted in retired West Yorkshire Detective Chief Superintendent Nick Wallen – who led the investigations into the murders of MP Jo Cox and school teacher Ann Maguire – to draw up its revised security plan for the festival.
The inquest continues.
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