Two women have been charged in connection to an alleged violent assault on another woman which forced a department store in Longford town to close yesterday.
A woman aged in her 20s and from Longford town was allegedly set upon by two other women while she was shopping in Penneys at Longford Shopping Centre shortly after 3pm.
Gardai arrived at the scene soon afterwards where they arrested the two alleged female suspects.
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Both were brought to Longford Garda station and detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
The shop itself was busy at the time and the incident is believed to have been witnessed by shoppers and staff.
A brawl between the trio quickly ensued with both alleged assailants and victim ending up on the floor.
The alleged victim sustained a gash over her left eye in the incident.
It's understood both suspects are related to the alleged victim, leading gardai to investigate whether the incident is part of an ongoing inter family feud.
Part of that inquiry is believed to date back to another, separate violent incident on Longford's Main Street last month which saw two people charged with assault.
Prior to that, a man in his late 20s and who is related to one of the alleged suspects in yesterday's incident was knocked over in January by a Ford Transit van in a suspected hit and run incident in a nearby Longford housing estate.
Both women are to appear before a sitting of Longford District Court next Tuesday.
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