Eight charged after housing estate riot

EIGHT people were brought to court on assault and public order charges last night in Westmeath after a riot involving up to 200 people at a local housing estate.

Two petrol bombs were thrown and a Garda car was damaged during the disturbance which broke out at Dalton Park, Mullingar, at about noon, gardaí said.

Another incident occurred when a number of injured people were taken to hospital.

A total of eight men were last night remanded in custody after a special sitting of Mullingar district court. Two were charged with assault while the other six were charged with breaches of the Public Order Act.

Judge John Neilan remanded the eight to appear before Tullamore District Court next Tuesday.

Traveller representative organisation Pavee Point rejected speculation that yesterday's incidents were sparked by a “King of the Travellers” fist fight.

Local officers, reinforcements from surrounding areas, the Public Order Unit, the Dog Unit, and the Garda Air Support Unit were all called in to bring the situation under control.

A number of people were taken to hospital in Mullingar with injuries while others were treated at the scene.

One person was detained in hospital with head injuries, described as “not life-threatening”, while others were treated for lacerations.

According to gardaí, another incident occurred when the injured were taken to hospital.

Calm was eventually restored by gardaí. However, tensions remained high in the area last night in the aftermath of the disturbances.

Dalton Park is a large public and private housing estate in the outskirts ofthe east of the town, with between 500 and 600 houses.

Pavee Point last night called for a peaceful resolution to disputes between Travellers in Westmeath.

Yesterday’s fighting is believed to be the result of a long-running dispute between two families in Mullingar.

Speaking at an event in Dublin, Pavee Point assistant director Martin Collins issued a call for peaceful efforts aimed at ending the conflict.

“Violence between members of the community only serves to further damage the reputation of Travellers, and alienate innocent members of the community from wider society,” he said.

“Those involved must end their violence and sit down to discuss their issues, before someone is seriously injured.”

Mr Collins rejected speculation that the violence was an organised dispute or the follow-on of a “King of the Travellers” event.

“Travellers are clear that there is absolutely no such thing as some ‘King of the Travellers’. It’s a fantasy, unrecognised by the community and with no standing whatsoever.

“It’s a massive disservice to the vast majority of Travellers to continue to propagate the myth.”