Armed Gardai were patrolling the town of Rathkeale in Co Limerick, Monday night after violent incidents erupted between rival groups, leaving the town “like a war zone”, locals said.
A number of vehicles were written off in ramming incidents, and machetes were allegedly produced, as gardai sealed off a large section of the town.
Local Fianna Fáil councillor Kevin Sheahan, who is a former Garda, suggested that Gardai used whatever was in their power - including clearing perpetrators from the streets with “batons”, in order to restore order in the west county Limerick town.
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“The town is like a bombshell. These people are out of control,” a local source said.
At least three separate groups are involved in a local feud that sources said they fear will result in persons being seriously injury or worse.
Sources said a gang linked to a notorious crime family, which it is claimed have attempted to extort lands and properties from locals, have been causing “havoc” in the town for several weeks.
Concerns of Christmas chaos were voiced three weeks ago by Cllr Sheahan, who said he had been personally warned that he was a possible target for one of the feuding groups because he raised the issue of rising tensions at a meeting of local councillors.
Locals said the town was on a “knife-edge” over the last few weeks after Gardai had seized weapons at a property in the town, shots were reportedly fired at a car, a mobile home was attacked by men wearing balaclavas and armed with slash hooks, and a Garda was seriously injured in a ramming incident.
The injured Garda underwent surgery but has since returned to duty, said local sources.
Cllr Sheehan warned at a local council meeting last month that “law and order has gone out the window” in Rathkeale.
He and others have called for an increased and sustained Garda presence in the town, in anticipation of further violence and in anticipation of the traditional increase in the Traveller community over the Christmas period.
Speaking tonight, Cllr Kevin Sheahan said: “This is shameful that this could happen in a town in my municipal district, and that this could happen at a time of the year when traditionally extra steps are taken by the Gardai in anticipation that this type of thing is likely to happen.”
“I think it is a disgrace that the town of Rathkeale is getting negatively labelled again. I know a lot of people in the settled community and the traveller community and the overwhelming majority of them are A1, they are good citizens.”
“The ones that come home for Christmas and triple the population – they are not the people causing this grief - they are people that come home to have celebrations, there might be incidents but they are manageable incidents,” said Cllr Sheehan.
He claimed those involved in the current feuding in the town are “outsiders that were previously in Rathkeale and they are back here now”.
“It may not be a popular solution, but I believe that the heavy-handed approach that these people are taking in Rathkeale, needs to be responded to with heavyn-handed treatment from An Garda Siochana.”
“This means you get in and clear them off the streets with batons or whatever, and you use whatever resources are available to you, and you have to do it with numbers, you can’t do this with half a dozen Gardai.”
Cllr Sheehan said Gardai “have to absolutely crack-down and put a stop to this, and let it be known by the people who contemplate doing these things that this is not acceptable and will not be accepted”.
“The ordinary people of Rathkeale, both the settled and Traveller community are totally opposed to all this, they don't deserve this, no community deserves this.”
Videos of the aftermath of violent incidents were shared on social media Monday showing several cars extensively damaged and left abandoned on the street and large groups of people recording the carnage on their mobile phones.
Local Fine Gael councillor Adam Tesky said he had been “inundated” with calls and texts from concerned local people.
He called for an armed garda unit to be present in the town for the foreseeable future to restore calm.
“I’m shocked and appalled by this, I have been in touch with the Chief Superintendent’s office and I have made me feelings and concerns, and those of locals, known to him.”
“I understand this is an ongoing garda matter,” said Cllr Tesky.
He commended Gardai who responded to Monday’s violent incidents, but he reiterated “there is an outcry for a more sustained armed Garda response in the town”.
Local sources said there was scenes of “mayhem” in the town Monday.
“There are cop cars everywhere, there are Gardai everywhere, there is evidence of weapons thrown on the street,” said one source.
“The is a feud between rival factions and it is starting to boil over now. Those involved are not to be messed with,” warned another.
Some locals have called for “the army” to be deployed to the town “because people are living in fear and it’s an absolute disgrace”.
“These people are not afraid of the Gardai,” they added.
“A large section of the town has white crime scene ribbons put across it, a large proportion of it has been sealed off towards the fire station.”
“Gardaí are investigating a public order and dangerous driving incident in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, this afternoon, 19th December 2022. Gardaí received report of a number of vehicles engaged in dangerous driving on the R523 Road in Rathkeale town and attended the scene,” said a Garda spokeswoman.
“Gardaí directed a number of people present to disperse and closed the road for examination.”
“Investigations are ongoing. Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident to come forward.”
“Any road users who were travelling in the Rathkeale area between 2pm and 4pm this afternoon who may have camera footage (including dash cam) is asked to make it available to Gardaí.”
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Rathkeale Garda Station on 069 63 222 , the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 , or any Garda station.”
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