Four held after car chase in Waterford

FOUR MEN were being questioned by gardaí in Waterford last night after eyewitness accounts emerged of a "high-speed" car chase in the city on Saturday evening, which resulted in a firearm allegedly being thrown into a city pub.

Eyewitnesses said one car rammed another up to 10 times on John Street at about 9.30pm on Saturday.

The chase, which continued on foot along Waterford's main thoroughfare, occurred as hundreds made their way to and from nearby pubs and restaurants.

The scenes ended when "one or two men burst past the bouncers" at a local establishment, while others came along and "threw a gun into the smoking area on the street" to the front of the bar, according to one eyewitness.

The Garda Press Office last night confirmed that four men were arrested on John Street on Saturday night.

"A firearm was recovered in a search of a nearby premises," a spokeswoman said.

"Two are being held in Dungarvan for questioning and two are being held in Tramore." The men could be held for up to 72 hours, it emerged.

One restaurant worker on John Street said he saw one car travelling "about 100 miles per hour and hit the other car".

A doorman working on a nearby pub, said: "They rammed it about eight times - smoke just kept coming out the front of it.

"The cops came along then and blocked off the road," he added.

"I just saw some men running up the street with others running after them with a gun," a customer at a neighbouring restaurant said.

Waterford City Councillor and Ballybeg resident Tom Murphy said last night: "People are terrified. I would just ask those involved to please stop and think about the consequences of their actions for all involved, especially the children."