Gardaí on alert after halting site gun attack

GARDAÍ are bracing themselves for further violence following a shotgun attack on a young man at a Travellers’ halting site near Waterford city.

There were reports that two families engaged in a bitter feud have called for reinforcements from relatives. Family members from one side are said to have arrived from England while relatives from the other family have driven from Dublin.

Senior officers are concerned at the developments and are fearful of revenge attacks.

The dispute escalated over the weekend, when a house of one of the families was set alight.

In an apparent revenge attack, caravans belonging to another family were taken out of Kilbarry halting site and set ablaze.

Gardaí believe yesterday morning’s shooting incident is linked to the same row. At about 4.30am, a fight involving more than a dozen men broke out at the site, during which three men were injured.

A 20-year-old youth received a wound to a leg, but the injuries were described as slight. Two other men also received injuries, thought to have been inflicted by slash hooks.

The youth later discharged himself from Waterford Regional Hospital, but returned after his mother became concerned about his bleeding. The other two men were also treated.

Gardaí were called to the scene and sealed off the sole entrance to the site.

Officers searched vehicles going in and out of the site and maintained a strong presence throughout the day. A big search of the area began after lunchtime involving about 30 officers, some armed, and 10 Garda vehicles. No weapons were recovered, but three men were arrested for public order offences related to the incident.

The site itself is in poor condition and overcrowded, with 30 caravans located on 12 bays. Waterford City Council has money to redevelop the site, but is finding it difficult to get residents to leave the site to enable work to start.

Anyone with information can contact Waterford Garda Station on 051-305316.

Sinn Féin councillor David Cullinane of the council’s Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee said the shooting was the result of feuding, which was linked to criminal behaviour.

Mayor Mary O’Halloran condemned the attack and said the issue would be debated by councillors today.