GARDAÍ ARE calling on two feuding factions in Co Westmeath to “see sense” in the wake of a number of incidents in Mullingar at the weekend.
The violence flared just a month after the Department of Justice appointed mediators to deal with ongoing tension in the area.
Gardaí arrested eight people following attacks on two houses and a car in Green Bridge and Mill Road areas of the town on Sunday.
Three of those arrested were released without charge. The remainder were charged in relation to the incidents.
They were released on bail to appear before Mullingar District Court later this week.
Insp Kieran Keyes called on those involved to “see sense”. He said a meeting involving senior members of the factions had taken place since the incident and a degree of “calm” had been restored.
Speaking of Sunday’s incidents he said: “We are continuing to investigate and we are expecting to bring more serious charges. All crimes will be investigated fully.” Insp Keyes said the DPP has been contacted in relation to the incidents.
Meanwhile, local councillor Ruth Illingworth (FG) has expressed anger at the events. “This is the second time in a month that we have had serious trouble in the town,” she commented.
Describing the situation as “unacceptable”, she claimed Mullingar was being given a bad name because of the actions of a small minority of residents.
She called for tougher measures to prevent any further trouble. “It is giving Mullingar a bad name and the people of Mullingar are absolutely sick of it,” she commented.
“If we are not careful in this town we could end up in a situation like parts of Dublin and parts of Limerick where feuds escalate into drug wars,” warned Ms Illingworth.
She called on the Garda and Criminal Assets Bureau to investigate how people who have “never worked” are “driving around in top-of-the-range cars”.
“We have had cases where people on bail have been driving around intimidating people. Those people don’t take the courts seriously,” she said.
“The people of Mullingar really have had enough,” said Ms Illingworth. She said the feud has been on going for over a decade.