Minister for Justice pledges additional garda resources on visiting Rathkeale after clashes
David Raleigh
Updated 8pm
The Minister for Justice walked the streets of Rathkeale tonight in a show of solidarity with locals who called for more gardaí on the beat to tackle violent feuding in the town.
Simon Harris said any additional resources required by gardaí in Rathkeale “would be forthcoming” to tackle feuding factions.
He pledged that those involved in such violence would be pursued by the State: “No part of this country is beyond the reach of the law”.
Mr Harris, who had direct talks with the head of the Limerick Garda Division, Chief Superintendent Derek Smart, said some additional garda resources had already being provided to local gardai to help them keep a lid on rising tensions between rival factions in the town.
Mr Harris said Monday’s violence was “abhorrent and utterly unacceptable, and will not be tolerated by An Garda Síochána”.
He added that Rathkeale was a “proud town with great people in it”.
Gardaí continued to patrol and operate checkpoints in the town on Tuesday following reports of violence and dangerous driving involving feuding groups. The scene on Monday was described by locals as resembling "a war zone".
Garda checkpoints were placed along a stretch of road where at least six vehicles were written off in a number of violent ramming incidents on Monday.
Gardaí were investigating several lines of enquiry as they probed the motive behind the violence. However, it is understood one theory being examined by investigators is that Monday’s clashes may have been linked to a recent altercation between parties at a pub in west Limerick.
Serious public order incident
Gardaí said they were continuing to investigate “the serious public order incident” in Rathkeale, on Monday.
“Gardaí received report of a number of vehicles engaged in dangerous driving on the R523 Road, Boherbui, in Rathkeale town and attended the scene,” said a spokesman.
“Responding Gardaí directed a large number of people present to disperse and closed the road for examination. A number of vehicles abandoned in the road were seized by Gardaí and taken for technical examination.”.
No arrests have yet been made.
Gardaí did not disclose details of its traditional policing plan in Rathkeale for the Christmas period, when the town’s population effectively trebles from 1400 due to an influx of members of the Travelling Community.
A garda spokesman said: “A policing plan for Rathkeale continues in place, commensurate with the current policing need, primarily based on Community engagement and High visibility uniform patrols and static checkpoints, supported where necessary by Regional Units.
He added: “Local Garda Management, across the Country put in place local policing plans for the Christmas period. These Policing plans are monitored and assessed on an ongoing basis and reviewed in line with evolving incidents and risks.”
