THE SEIZURE of an array of weapons and a melee involving up to 25 people in Tralee yesterday are believed to be connected to an ongoing feud between rival factions in the Traveller community.
A 26-year-old man was arrested after a shotgun was seized during the search of a vehicle stopped by gardaí on the Tralee to Castleisland road shortly after midnight. The sole occupant of the car was held under section 30 of the Offences against the State Act.
During a follow-up search of a house in the Mitchel’s Crescent area of Tralee, another shotgun, three petrol bombs, two Samurai swords, a slash hook, a knife and two balaclavas were found.
Later, there were violent scenes in Tralee after a fight involving rival families on Ashe Street spilled into the courthouse.
Judge James O’Connor adjourned the weekly sitting for a brief period after an application by Garda Insp Martin McCarthy, as gardaí in stab vests tried to bring the fracas in the foyer of the courthouse under control.
Five people were arrested and are likely to be charged with public order offences, according to gardaí.
The fight between rival factions follows the seizure of the two shotguns in the town.
The firearms seized on Tuesday night bring to six the number of guns seized by gardaí.
The weekly sitting of the courthouse is now characterised by large numbers of Travellers on the steps of the courthouse and gardaí in stab vests conducting searches at the main entrance.
Meanwhile, inter-agency talks are taking place to try to resolve the feud which has seen more than 70 incidents, with more than 40 people before the courts.
A variety of axes and other weapons have also been seized.
The regional Garda armed response unit has been called into Tralee three times to deal with the tensions.
A special court sitting has been scheduled for November 13th to deal with the issue.
Women in particular have suffered greatly, according to those working with the Travellers.
They have not been able to go about their ordinary business, requiring Garda protection to bring children to school and do their shopping.
Families who had moved out of their homes in Tralee on to a green area of Castleisland because of fear, have been moved on to a halting site in Killarney.
The origins of the feud are not clear.
Meanwhile, Kerry Travellers Development Project is working with an inter-agency group made up of representatives from the Irish Traveller Movement, the HSE, Rapid, An Garda Síochána, the Catholic Church, Kerry Education Service and the Visiting Teacher Service, to resolve the conflict, it said in a statement.