GARDAÍ SEIZED dozens of vehicles and made several arrests for public drunkenness and violent behaviour during an annual car rally in Killarney, Co Kerry, at the weekend.
Figures were being compiled and finalised last night as the Ordnance Survey Ireland sponsored International Rally of the Lakes does not officially end until midnight Monday, gardaí said.
However, gardaí in Killarney confirmed they were investigating at least two serious assaults and other arrests were made for drunkenness, drugs and public order offences during a weekend which saw extra gardaí drafted into the town.
Locals spoke of public drunkenness at midday on the streets on Saturday of the tourist town, mounds of litter in scenic areas and blood-soaked fights in the centre of the tourist town late on Saturday night along with a threatening atmosphere on the streets.
More than 30 vehicles were seized for road traffic offences such as failure to have a completed National Car Test roadworthy certificate displaying road tax and other such offences, Killarney gardaí confirmed.
Rally organisers say the true followers of the rally do not engage in loutish activity and are up early to watch the rally stages in the Killarney and west Cork areas.
Attendance at the 30th annual motor rally appeared to be down on other years on the opening days but increased on Saturday night and Sunday when thousands gathered and there were hours long traffic jams around the town.