Families ‘are virtually at war for six years’

IT began with an assault on an 11-year-old girl and escalated into a bitter dispute between two families involving claims of intimidation, abuse and harassment.

Tipperary Town Circuit Court yesterday heard how the Heaney and Ryan families from Thurles were virtually at war for six years.

Nuala Heaney told the court the feud began when her youngest daughter, Angela, was assaulted by Matt Ryan on September 1, 1997. He alleged the girl gestured towards his wife, Eileen Ryan.