Rival gangs armed with ‘frightful weaponry’

IN THE WAKE of the seizure of what has been described as “a frightening array of weaponry”, gardaí in Clonmel this week launched their biggest ever antisocial behaviour blitz on a number of housing estates in the town.

Code named “Operation Clean”, it will target antisocial behaviour in six estates in the Wilderness, Carrigeen, and Oakland Drive areas of the town.

Gardaí assigned to the operation will be deployed on foot, on mountain bikes, in vans and patrol cars, and will be engaged in virtually around the clock patrols over the next three or four months, before the situation in the town’s estates is reviewed.

The initiative is a response to a serious altercation, last weekend, between rival gangs of youths at a bonfire in the Wilderness area.

Gardaí, fire brigade personnel and their vehicles were attacked with stones at the scene, and Garda reinforcements had to be called in to quell the trouble.

One youth was injured and was taken to hospital, while a number of people arrested during the disturbance now face court prosecution.

In a follow up operation, Clonmel gardaí seized weaponry including daggers, swords, a machete, a pitchfork, a hatchet, iron bars, steel and timber baseball bats, hurleys and balaclavas.

Some were in the possession of the youths involved, while others were found concealed in houses.

Supt John McCann said the vast majority of the residents of the estates were not involved in any way in the disturbances and welcomed the speedy arrival of the gardaí.

He is now appealing for the cooperation of the public and said people can contact the gardaí on their confidential number (1800-666-111) or make direct contact with Clonmel garda station.

“The actions of these people will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” added Supt McCann.

“Our intention is to apprehended those involved and bring them before the courts.”

Supt McCann, who is also head of the investigation into the recent drugs-related murder of Eoin Cahill, at a house party in Kilganey, outside Clonmel, said that, as far as the gardaí are aware, the weekend disturbance that led to the launch of the operation was not connected to the Cahill murder.