Appeal for calm in Cork City after mother and child escape injury in shooting incident 

Local politicians have appealed for calm and for extra garda resources after a number of incidents that are believed to be linked 

Labour Cllr John Maher said there is a genuine concern in the area that this feud could escalate further.

Community leaders have appealed for calm after a mother and child escaped injury in a shooting incident believed to be linked to a feud on the northside of Cork City.

It followed an earlier incident in which a car was attacked by at least two men wielding axes.

The shooting, which occurred close to a Traveller halting site in Ballyvolane, was the second shooting incident in the suburb since the weekend when shots were fired at a house in the Glenfields Park area of Ballyvolane on Saturday night.

As garda investigations into that incident continue, another investigation has been launched into the latest shooting incident.

In a statement, gardaí said officers at Watercourse Road were alerted shortly after 5.30pm on Tuesday following reports of shots fired in a residential area at Ballyvolane Road.

“There were no reports of any injuries and enquiries into the matter are ongoing,” he said.

While gardaí have not commented in detail on the incidents, it is believed that all three — Saturday's shooting, the axe attack on the car, and the gun attack on a car — are linked to an ongoing feud involving members of up to four families in the Traveller community.

It is understood that Tuesday’s incidents were in retaliation for Saturday’s gun attack.

Social media 

So-called ‘call-out’ videos have also been posted to various social media platforms, threatening further violence and retaliation, while other videos from people linked to the feuding families have been posted online showing men armed with a sawn-off shotgun and hatchets driving in a car.

The gun attack on the car carrying a woman and child marks a serious escalation in the feud, local politicians said.

They have appealed for calm and for extra garda resources to deal with the matter.

Independent Cllr Ken O’Flynn said residents living in the area, as well as members of the Traveller community, are deeply concerned that the situation could escalate further.

“People are deeply worried about their own safety, and about their children’s safety and we have people now living in fear that gunshots could be fired at the wrong house,” he said.

“I have had contact from several women in the Traveller community saying they are worried about their partners, husbands, fathers, sons, involvement in this.

“Gardaí in fairness are doing a lot of work behind the scenes, trying to broker peace, but it seems to be falling on deaf ears.” 

Garda resources

Labour Cllr John Maher said there is a genuine concern in the area that this feud could escalate further.

“People are concerned now that someone could get caught in the cross-fire,” he said.

“These call-out videos are being recorded where families shop, get involved in sport, go about their everyday lives, their daily routines.

“I have spoken to gardaí about it and they have told me that this is a top priority, but garda resources are already stretched.

“I would like to see a greater garda presence in the area and hope that every available garda resource is being devoted to this.”