Five arrested as brawl erupts at funeral home

FIVE men were arrested yesterday after 40 members of the Travelling community became embroiled in a fight inside a Kilkenny city funeral home.

Insults were traded by various mourners alongside the coffin of Josephine (Judy) Harty, Hebron Park, Kilkenny, just as her family prepared to take her remains to the church.

Although gardaí did not recover any weapons, witnesses claimed to have seen a number of objects being used during the brawl.

As the fighting between the men intensified, women and young children were caught up in the middle of the melee, which spilled from the funeral home to the adjacent car park.

Gardaí wearing riot gear entered the funeral home and arrested five men as the mourners scattered.

Two men were taken to St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, with head injuries, but their injuries were not thought to be serious.

A number of other people received flesh wounds but did not seek any medical treatment.

Pubs and businesses in the vicinity of the funeral home kept their doors closed for most of the day.

Gardaí will be on alert at the funeral Mass today at St Patrick’s Church, College Road, at 11am.

Mrs Harty’s casket will afterwards be taken by horsedrawn carriage to St Kieran’s Cemetery for burial.