U2 Fined Over Dublin Gig

Irish rock giants U2 have been fined over £30,000 after a controversial show in their hometown of Dublin.

U2 may well be ambassadors for world peace, but recently the band have been making more friends than enemies.

Launching their '360 Degrees' world tour earlier this year, the band unveiled an innovative new stage design. Performing underneath an enormous claw, U2 allowed fans around an entire stadium to get a glimpse of their set.

However residents in Croke Park were left fuming when the band played three nights at the Dublin stadium. Trucks carrying equipment for U2 were reported to be moving non-stop, causing huge amounts of disruption.

The gig itself was said to have passed off without incident, but when U2 attempted to depart from Dublin they found themselves blockaded in by angry residents.

Potentially causing their entire European tour to be re-arranged, the trucks carrying the band's equipment missed a ferry link to Scandinavia. Finding alternative transport the tour was saved, but U2 were still forced to answer for themselves in a recent Dublin court hearing.

Complaints by residents in the Croke Park area were brought against the group, and an investigation by the city council found the band were louder than allowed 12 times over three gigs.

Fined over £33,000 a campaign group formed by Croke Park residents has branded the level of the fine "paltry".

U2 have not commented on the case.