There was a large Garda presence in Galway city and county yesterday for the exhumation of the bodies of two Travellers from Tuam cemetery.
The remains of two members of the Ward family - a husband and wife who died more than 10 years ago - were transferred to Rahoon cemetery for reburial, following approval by Galway County Council and the Department of the Environment.
Permission for the exhumation and reburial was sought by the relatives of the couple on the grounds they could not visit their dead parents' graves in Tuam during a continuing dispute between rival factions of the Ward family. The relatives claimed that they had experienced intimidation as a result of the feud.
The reburial passed off without incident. Last week, several violent incidents were reported to the Garda involving up to 40 Travellers on the west of Galway city.
Cars and a house were damaged during the rows in Corrach Bui and Camilaun Park, and two people were treated in University College Hospital, Galway.