A misleading website based in Pakistan created confusion in Dublin, where hundreds gathered on O’Connell Street on Thursday, mistakenly believing they were attending a Halloween parade that never occurred.
The situation escalated to the point where Irish police had to issue a public statement clarifying that no parade was taking place and urging the crowd to disperse safely.
Media reports indicate that details about Halloween events in Ireland and elsewhere were shared on a website called MySpiritHalloween.com, which misled people into flocking to O’Connell Street.
The website, operated from Pakistan, described the incident as a “mistake,” claiming it was neither a joke nor an intentional deception.
In a statement to BBC News NI, the owner expressed deep regret, saying, “We are very embarrassed and ashamed. We apologize for wasting people’s time and money.”
The owner explained that the confusion stemmed from a writer mistakenly publishing details about last year’s event due to “ignorance.”
After the article was posted, the event details went viral on TikTok and Instagram, even though the website itself did not share the article on its social media platforms.
“We were not informed that the parade was canceled this year. If we had known earlier, we would have removed the article immediately,” the owner noted.
Upon discovering the parade’s absence, the website’s owner quickly took down the article.
“Our intentions were good; we aimed to provide accurate information. This was a mistake, and we are taking responsibility for it,” they added.
Filmmaker Bertie Brosnan was among those who went to O’Connell Street to broadcast the parade on social media. Brosnan soon realized there was no parade, stating, “During parades, there are roadblocks, security, and police. But there was nothing—just a large crowd of people.”
The Irish police have stated that no investigation will be conducted, as “no criminal activity was reported.”
They advised the public to verify all online information through reliable and trustworthy sources.
In their statement, the police added, “Information about large events, including traffic management, transport, and public safety, is often available on the police and Dublin City Council websites.”
“I checked the website, and it seemed legitimate. But I was misled,” lamented a frustrated attendee.
