Armed gardaí patrol Charleville as family feuds are investigated

A number of separate family feuds have sparked the violence in the north Cork town in recent weeks

Uniformed gardaí and detectives from Mallow and Charleville are investigating the crimes. File picture: Collins

Gardaí have mounted armed patrols, high visibility checkpoints and drafted in detectives from around the county to tackle the family feuds which have sparked repeated violence in Charleville.

The incidents between the families so far have included masked men firing guns at and trying to set a property alight; badly injuring a child when attempting to break into her home armed with suspected slash hooks; a petrol bomb being thrown at a house in Knocknaheeny in Cork city; and shots fired between vehicles travelling near O’Rourke’s Cross on the N20 Charleville-Limerick Road.

Superintendent Gary McPolin, who is overseeing the investigations, said the perpetrators "will be brought to justice".

“We're putting all the pieces of the jigsaw together.” 

The suspects in the different attacks were wearing balaclavas but gardaí now “have a fair idea of who is involved”. Gardaí are now compiling evidence in the cases.

“We have a 24-hour garda service in Charleville but we’ve increased it. There are more high-visibility patrols and checkpoints, assisted by the armed support unit from Cork city and detectives from around the county,” Supt McPolin said.

“We’re also working with our counterparts in Limerick.” 

Gardaí are still seeking witnesses and are going house-to-house as part of their operation. Uniform officers and detectives from Mallow and Charleville are involved in the investigations.

Last Friday night, shots were fired at a house in the Fortlands area of Charleville, windows were smashed and an attempt was made to set it on fire. The home was vacant at the time. A car was also criminally damaged in the incident.

Earlier that day shots were fired at an empty house in Kilmallock, Co Limerick. It is believed that the violence was sparked by a feud between families in Cork and Limerick.

A petrol bomb was also thrown at a house in Knocknaheeny in Cork city last week which is believed to be linked to the family feuds.

In another incident, which is part of a separate suspected family feud, a child was taken to Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin for emergency surgery after she suffered a suspected fractured skull and brain bleed when masked men armed with suspected slash hooks broke into her family home in Charleville on Monday night, August 19.

The 12-year-old girl is believed to be recovering well.