traveller brawl galway

Priest feared someone would get killed during violent brawl at Galway funeral

Fr. ray flaherty expressed his shock after a violent brawl, reportedly a feud between traveller families, broke out at a funeral in co galway this week..

A Galway-based priest who officiated at a funeral that turned into a graveside brawl has said that it was his "worst ever experience" as a priest. 

Seven people were hospitalized due to the injuries they sustained during the brawl at a local cemetery on the Athenry Road in Tuam, County Galway, on September 22. 

Armed gardaí, an Army helicopter, and five helicopters were called to the scene as brawlers attacked with knives, slash hooks, and saws. It is believed that one victim was rushed to hospital with severe stab wounds. 

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Numerous publications report that the brawl related to an ongoing feud between two local Traveller families that had been escalating over recent months. The feud is not believed to be related to the families of the deceased. 

Fr. Ray Flaherty told the Irish Sun that members of the bereaved family, who were not involved in the brawl, had apologized for the incident. 

“I did the second funeral. I wasn’t aware of the background . . . I’ve always had a great time for the Travelling community," Fr. Flaherty said.

“Regardless of who they are, you treat everybody the same. I’ve always had a policy that if you meet people half way, they’ll always meet you the other half.

“I know some members of the family came up to me afterwards and were apologetic.”

Fr. Flaherty said he feared that someone would get killed during the brawl.

"I was really shocked by the whole thing. I tried to calm things with the few guards who were initially present, but you might as well be shouting in the wind," he told the Irish Sun. 

"It was my worst ever experience. I’ve heard about it happening in places, but it was shocking to see." 

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An eye-witness who was attending a loved one's grave in the cemetery when the fight broke out described the brawl as "complete carnage" and told the Irish Independent that he had never seen anything like it. 

The unnamed witness said that there were two funerals in the cemetery on Wednesday and that a number of people remained after the first funeral had ended. 

"When the second funeral drove into the graveyard all hell broke loose," the witness told the Irish Independent. 

"I’ve never seen anything like it in my life- women screaming, kids running for cover, and their mothers shouting ‘Go behind the wall’.

"And next thing rocks started raining down on the people coming in the second funeral." 

The witness said that some brawlers ripped wooden crosses out of graves to use as weapons and added that he saw Fr. Flaherty begging people to stop. 

He said that he also saw paramedics assisting a man who had suffered a serious head injury and was "losing a lot of blood". 

Gardaí have confirmed that they are investigating the incident and arrested a male youth who attempted to flee the scene in possession of a knife. 

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Four hospitalised after car ‘driven at speed’ ploughs into group of people in Galway

Four people were hospitalised after a car ploughed into a crowd during a brawl outside a Galway pub on Sunday.

A major investigation is underway into the serious incident which took place outside the shopping centre on Headford Road around 6pm.

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Footage of the brawl, which involved a large number of people, has been shared widely on social media.

Gardaí said a vehicle was driven at speed through the group of people. Images were later shared online of a car with a smashed windscreen.

A man and a woman are receiving treatment at University Hospital Galway for their injuries, which have been described as non-life threatening.

Two men were also assaulted and are also receiving treatment at UHG for non-life-threatening injuries.

Gardaí confirmed they have seized a number of weapons and two vehicles have also been seized for technical examination.

A garda spokesperson told Extra.ie : ‘Gardaí in Galway are investigating a serious public order incident that occurred on the Headford Road in Galway yesterday evening, Sunday 10th September 2023, at approximately 6.10pm.

‘A large number of people were involved in an altercation in a car park on the Headford Road. Two men were assaulted and are currently receiving treatment at University Hospital Galway for non-life-threatening injuries.

‘During the course of the incident, a vehicle was driven at speed at a group of people. A man and woman are receiving treatment at University Hospital Galway for their injuries, which are understood to be non-life threatening.

‘Gardaí have seized a number of weapons which are understood to have been used during the course of the incident. Two vehicles have also been seized for a technical examination.’

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Gardai seize weapons and cars after 'outrageous' brawl erupts in Galway shopping centre car park

Four people are in hospital after the shocking incident that saw one person thrown into the air after a car was driven towards a group of people

• 10:42, 11 SEP 2023

These are the shocking scenes that unfolded during a massive brawl in broad daylight in Galway on Sunday evening.

Four people are now receiving treatment in hospital following the incidents which occurred in a car park of a shopping centre on the Headford Road at around 6pm.

Gardai are now investigating the serious public order incident that happened in the carpark.

READ MORE: 'A tragedy for all concerned': Tributes to man who died after alleged 'one-punch' attack

In a post on Facebook, Galway county councillor James Charity labelled the brawl “outrageous” and “unacceptable” and then called for immediate action and “zero tolerance”.

A large crowd gathered in the car park when a black car appears to be driven at speed past the crowd before turning back.

A person is then somersaulted into the air and several others are seen lying on the ground.

The black car then leaves the scene with its number plate on the front hanging off and with damage to the windscreen.

Several people are then seen tending to a female on the ground.

In a statement gardai confirmed they are investigating the serious public order incident and that a number of weapons which are understood to have been used during the course of the incident have been seized.

“Gardaí in Galway are investigating a serious public order incident that occurred on the Headford Road in Galway yesterday evening, Sunday, September 10 at approximately 6.10pm.

“A large number of people were involved in an altercation in a car park on the Headford Road.

“Two men were assaulted and are currently receiving treatment at University Hospital Galway for non-life threatening injuries.

“During the course of the incident, a vehicle was driven at speed at a group of people. A man and woman are receiving treatment at University Hospital Galway for their injuries, which are understood to be non-life threatening.

“Gardaí have seized a number of weapons which are understood to have been used during the course of the incident.

"Two vehicles have also been seized for a technical examination,” the statement said. Investigations are ongoing at this time, gardai confirmed.

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Clash between traveller clans in Tuam averted by gardai talks

The threat of a mass street brawl between hundreds of travellers was averted yesterday evening in tuam, co galway, when gardai….

The threat of a mass street brawl between hundreds of travellers was averted yesterday evening in Tuam, Co Galway, when gardai brokered a peace deal between two sets of families who have been engaged in a long-running and often violent feud.

However, gardai in the town and in Galway city are on standby this morning. More than 200 members of the Ward clan and an equal number of the McDonagh and Sweeney clans gathered in Tuam yesterday morning after a challenge was issued from one side to the other to fight on the streets of the town. Members of the Ward, McDonagh and Sweeney clans arrived in the town from many parts of the country and this led to the build-up of travellers who took up positions in the Parkmore Estate and Gilmartin Road areas on opposite sides of the town.

Dozens of gardai were drafted in from outlying areas to police the town during the stand-off.

The latest incident arose from a bare-knuckle brawl between several men in the town square last Friday, when traffic in the area was brought to a standstill as hundreds of locals rushed to watch the fight. However, it was soon broken up by gardai and charges are expected to be brought in the coming week. Weapons, including pickaxe handles, were seized by gardai yesterday morning from the two groupings, and as fear of a violent riot grew, four members from each side were brought to the Garda station to engage in peace negotiations.

The heated face-to-face talks could be heard through the windows of the Garda station and after 90 minutes the two sides emerged and refused to answer questions from the media.

However, deputation member and Sligoman, Mr Patrick Sweeney, said: "We've kissed and made up and we're great friends now. It seems it's all over."

Tuam's Supt Bill Fennell, who chaired the negotiation, said afterwards that he was confident that a settlement to the long-running feud had been reached in what he believed was a significant breakthrough.

He said that after the negotiations the traveller groupings had agreed to disperse and promised that there would not be any violence between the sides. News of the negotiations was relayed to the travellers and they dispersed soon afterwards, but many of the visiting travellers were still in the town last night.

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Security guard brutally kicks tourist in head

Shocking footage shows the moment a security guard brutally kicked a tourist in the head during a massive bar brawl in Thailand.

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Shocking footage shows the moment a British man was brutally kicked in the head during a massive bar brawl in Thailand.

The Brit is now thought to be in a coma in intensive care after a bouncer’s savage attack.

The holidaymaker and his two friends had been drinking in the red-light city Pattaya before the chaos unfolded on Friday night.

They began arguing over the bill with staff in the Helicopter Bar - claiming the bar had tried to scam them by inflating the receipt.

Soon a huge fight unfolded on the street outside, as female dancers and bystanders watched on in horror and tried to intervene.

Three security guards dressed in black pounced on the men, one in a grey shirt and one in a white one, knocking them to the floor.

Disturbing video shows the man in white lying defeated on the ground, raising his hands pleading for them to stop.

As he begins to sit up, one of the guards takes a long run-up and delivers a horrific football kick to the side of his head at full force.

The Sun has chosen not the show video of the moment the man was assaulted.

He lay completely still on the pavement following the attack, as people crowded around and fanned him.

Witnesses have said he is now fighting for his life in intensive care.

His companion, in a grey top, also receives a blow to the head from another security guard while on the ground.

Police refused to provide any official details about the tourist.

Speaking on Monday, Sergeant Major Arthon from Pattaya City police station said the three security guards have been warned about their conduct but have not been arrested or charged.

He said: “The tourist in the video who was attacked has not filed a police report, so we cannot assign an investigating officer.

“There’s no case open until they complain. We’ve had a look around but can’t find them.

“Yes, we’re still checking CCTV to see what happened to them.

“There are rumours that he is in intensive care but we haven’t heard anything from hospitals.”

One of the women from the bar where the incident unfolded said that the group of three men disputed their drinks bill, which came to around 2,800 Baht ($A115).

Bar hostess Samorn, 38, said that the three men had paid for two prostitutes to drink with them.

She claimed: “Two of the tourists had paid their bills, but another had not and changed his seat several times.

“I asked them to pay the bill, but the tourist in the white shirt argued that he had already paid.

“I explained that the money I was asking for was the payment of someone who had not paid and not his own bill.

“They insulted me and said the bar was trying to scam them, so I called the security over and told them the tourist would not pay his bill.”

CCTV shows how the bill was eventually settled - but the tourist in the white shirt then pushed a security guard and the fight escalated.

Police Colonel Nawin Thirawit, superintendent of Pattaya Police Station, said today that the bouncers’ actions had tarnished the image of Pattaya - which relies heavily on tourism.

They were invited to the police station and apologised for “damaging the image of the country”.

The policeman said: “’The security guards should have prevented the incident and reported it to the police.

“Anyone who works in this industry must keep their emotions in check and focus on preventing incidents rather than attacking people.

“Cases like this can damage the reputation of the city and deter tourists from visiting.”

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Helicopter Bar, which is understood to have British owners, did not respond to requests for comment.

Several other bars on the same street are also owned and managed by the company Nightwish Group.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission

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1 The Plaza, Headford Rd, Galway, H91 KC6V

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New 150km Irish cycleway update as 'issue' raised over revolutionary travel plan

It would change travel around the country forever

• 08:18, 28 MAY 2024

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A Galway senator has reiterated the need for progress to be made on the development of a 150 kilometre cycleway planned from Galway city to Athlone.

Senator Aisling Dolan, who hails from Ballinasloe, raised the longstanding issue in the Seanad recently with Minister of State Ossian Smyth. Project liaison officers have been consulting with landowners near the proposed path since 2021.

It was announced over a month ago that the proposed cycleway will be built in two separate projects as further headway is made in delivering the long-discussed route.

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The project would see the creation of a segregated walking and cycling route linking Ballyloughane Beach in Galway City to Athlone Castle, where it will connect to the existing Athlone to Dublin Cycleway.

The proposed route would follow the River Shannon south from Athlone to Portumna before heading along the south of the county to Gort and then snaking north to Kinvara, Oranmore and eventually continuing along the coast to Ballyloughnane.

Under a new approach, a 114km cycleway is to be developed from Galway to Portumna, which would be managed by Galway County Council.

A second phase of 83 kilometres, from Portumna to Athlone, would be managed by Westmeath County Council.

Speaking in the Seanad this week, Senator Dolan said: "This will transform our region. It will be a way to boost community activity. We talk about how we are delivering a balanced regional investment for the whole country."

She also highlighted the potential tourism the project would attract and the benefit it would bring for families who could cycle the route together over the course of a few days.

"But, Minister, the key part here is that we've been doing this for years. I was involved in this consultation nearly 3 to 4 years ago."

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