Gardaí fear escalation of Cork feud as five people are charged

When officers found a slash-hook, knife, two pikes, two hurleys, a crow-bar and one pickaxe handle in a truck, one of the defendants said “We have to protect ourselves.”

A Garda armed response team at Cork District Court today where a woman and four men arrested in relation to the shooting incident in Mahon were charged. Photo: Eddie O'Hare

Gardaí believe that both sides in the feud between McDonagh and Keenan families in Cork city have an array of weapons including homemade firearms and also believe that the dispute is escalating.

Detective Garda Paul Radley gave evidence against three members of the Keenan family before Cork District and Detective Garda Sharon Sweeney arrested two members of the McDonagh family. Both detectives expressed garda concerns for the safety of both families and for members of the public in the dispute which is getting more serious.