Group with slash hooks chased man through Confirmation service

A Confirmation service for more than 90 children was disrupted by wild scenes after Communion, when about a dozen men entered the church carrying slash hooks and chased a man who was attending the ceremony.

The incident in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, took place shortly after 1.30pm.

Onlookers reported that the man fled into the porch of the church where a large wooden table was broken over his back.

Armed gardaí were on the scene within minutes and managed to defuse the situation.

No serious injuries have been reported arising out of the incident.

The incident is believed to be part of an ongoing feud between two families in the area.

There were more than 600 people in St Mary’s Church at the time, as children from the local national schools of St Joseph’s, Cloonliffen, Roxboro, and Cregduff, along with a number of secondary school children, made their Confirmation. Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Michael Neary, was the chief celebrant of the Mass.

Gardaí arrested one man at the scene and he is due to appear before a special sitting of a local district court this week.

A Garda spokesperson said the matter was still under investigation and that the situation was “volatile” for a time, but a number of gardaí who were on patrol locally brought the situation under control.

Those in the church were shocked by the scenes.

“To see this happen before your eyes is unbelievable,” said one witness.

“The lack of respect shown was incredible, to think that such an attack would take place on the day of a Confirmation, a special day for so many children and their families. These people had no regard for human safety and a lot of people are very upset and shocked about what happened. I never saw the likes of this in Ballinrobe.”