A dance festival publicised in court by the Bradley brothers was also being pushed by a pirate radio station.

The station -- Escap3 FM -- is now the subject of an investigation by the Communication Regulator, the Herald has learned.

It claimed to be broadcasting across the north east and playing mixes from some of the acts involved in the festival.

Broadcasting on the frequency of 94.2fm, it was also the basis of a website which advertised the Escape festival.

T-SHIRTS

However, organisers of the event say that they had no involvement in the website or pirate station.

The same festival was the subject of national attention last week, when Alan and Wayne Bradley wore promotional T-shirts during a Circuit Criminal Court hearing relating to a €2m cash-in-transit robbery.

The website says it contains "all the information you could possibly want to know about Escape Festival and Escape clubnights".

It says: "You'll find all the latest news, lineups, radio show info, music, pictures and downloads from the Escape crew, so make sure you have a good look around."

The radio station is described as having the "best old skool, trance, techno, electro, hard dance and everything in between with no ads or nonsense".

A spokesperson for the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland told the Herald that nobody has applied for a licence for a radio station by that name.

And ComReg confirmed that Escap3 FM is the subject of an investigation by its officials; however, a spokesperson could not explain the nature of their inquiries.

Escape organiser Sean Enright told the Herald: "It's nothing to do with me."

The website gave information on buying tickets and public transport to the event in Fairyhouse last weekend.

It also said: "This is where you will find out the latest news of the Escape Festival, any pre-parties or free tickets to be won along with info on the radio show, pictures of previous gigs and free downloads."

SHOCKED

Mr Enright said that escap3.com was not an official site and those behind the festival had no association with it.

Mr Enright has also previously denied any association with Alan and Wayne Bradley saying he was "shocked" that they wore the shirts into court.

More than 3,000 people attended the over 18s event on Saturday and Mr Enright said: "Everything went very well.

"Gardai said they were delighted with it."

kdoyle@herald.ie

- Kevin Doyle