Five men held after traveller is stabbed to death

Gardai in Co Kildare are still holding five men from two travelling families over the stabbing to death of a 20-year-old man …

Gardai in Co Kildare are still holding five men from two travelling families over the stabbing to death of a 20-year-old man during a fracas at a house in Newbridge.

The dead man was named last night as Mr James Kerrigan, who had been living with his family at a temporary halting site on the Dublin Road in Naas. The family had earlier lived in the Dundalk area. Mr Kerrigan was single and unemployed.

It is understood that at around midnight on Saturday Mr Kerrigan, in the company of his father, Martin, and bother James went to the home of another family who are settled in a council house at Lakeside Park, Newbridge.

According to local people there was a noisy row and a fight during which a number of shots were heard. The fighting was reported at its height at around 12.30 .a.m., and it is believed that it broke up after James Kerrigan received a serious knife wound.

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Mr Kerrigan was taken to Naas General Hospital by his father and brother but could not be revived. Three members of the settled family were taken to St James's Hospital, Dublin, where they were treated for superficial injuries. Gardai went to St James's later in the morning and arrested three brothers.

The arrests were made under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act (which is invoked in cases where firearms are used). They were taken to Newbridge Garda station. They can be held for questioning for 48 hours without charge.

Later yesterday morning gardai went to Naas hospital and arrested Mr Martin Kerrigan and his son and they were taken to Naas Garda station for questioning.

It is understood the gardai recovered a starting pistol and a number of knives at the scene of the killing. Last night gardai were still trying to find out what caused the dispute and why the Kerrigans had gone to the other family's home.

Gardai have expressed concern at the continuing tendency among a minority of travelling families to settle disputes with violence. There has been a succession of killings among travellers arising from rows in which knives and even machetes and hatchets are used.