Cork gardaí on high alert after chainsaw threat made by feuding families

The stunts are among a string of threatening posts linked to members of the feuding families following a violent disorder incident in Hollyhill on Monday afternoon

The man was a front-seat passenger and held the chainsaw as the car drove past the Bridewell Garda Station just hours after a Traveller feud saw violence spill onto the streets of the city’s northside File picture: Denis Minihane

Gardaí are liaising with Traveller representatives and monitoring social media posts after a man linked to feuding families brandished a chainsaw in a drive-by of a garda station before later threatening: “Limbs is coming off”.

It comes as a gang armed with bats attacked a house in Carrigaline on Tuesday night, smashing windows, screaming at a man inside to come out, before throwing a petrol bomb at the front of the building as they left in an incident believed to be linked to the same feud.

The man was a front-seat passenger and held the chainsaw as the car drove past the Bridewell Garda Station just hours after a Traveller feud saw violence spill onto the streets of the city’s northside.

The man later started the chainsaw as the car was being driven along the N20 in Blackpool screaming: “Limbs is coming off, limbs, limbs”.

The chilling stunts are among a string of threatening posts which have appeared on social media accounts apparently linked to members of the feuding families following a serious violent disorder incident in Hollyhill on Monday afternoon.

A car passenger holds a chainsaw outside Bridewell garda Station, Cork City.

Two men from one side of the feud were chased into Singleton's SuperValu by a group of men from the other side, some of whom were hooded and masked, and some armed with slash hooks, baseball bats and pickaxe handles.

One of those being chased ran towards the back of the shop, but the gang honed in on the other man, who took cover behind the shop counter, lashing out with their weapons, terrifying store staff and shoppers.

Outside, a flatbed pick-up truck was driven at speed through the car park before ramming into a parked car.

Several posts have appeared online since, including one which claims this escalation in what is a long-running feud is a direct result of an alleged attack on a pregnant woman in a city centre store on St Stephen’s Day.

Other messages include threats to “smoke” certain houses and businesses linked to rival family members.

A senior garda source said detectives had concerns that apart from feuding family members getting injured, an innocent bystander could get caught up in this.

As well as investigating the Hollyhill incident, gardaí are working in the background with “senior and respected figures" in the Traveller community in a bid to reduce tensions and to prevent a further escalation of the feud.

Independent Ireland TD for Cork North Central Ken O’Flynn said his decision to speak out about the issue was not "him versus the Traveller community".

“It's Traveller families versus other Traveller families. This isn’t a new feud. It’s being going on for months, And it’s the same family names coming up again and again and again,” he said.

He also said he had no confidence in some of the stakeholders who are in receipt of taxpayers’ money to represent the Traveller community, and said his door was open to broker a resolution.

Hollyhill-based Fianna Fáil councillor Tony Fitzgerald praised the swift garda response to Monday’s incident, and the bravery and resilience of the staff in the shop.

“It is hugely disappointing that this feud is spilling into the community. Whatever is going on, I would appeal to both sides to resolve this peacefully,” he said.