Warring criminal factions behind armed assault and car chase through Cork suburb

Masked suspects headed on manhunt following incident on northside earlier in the day

Gardaí attended the scene of a road traffic road collision outside Virgin Media Park in Ballyphehane on Tuesday evening. Picture: Red FM

Warring criminal factions are believed to be behind Tuesday evening’s armed assault and car chase through a Cork suburb.

An incident on the northside of Cork City, believed to be in Ballyvolane, on Tuesday morning sparked the violence in Ballyphehane later in the day.

A number of masked suspects headed on a manhunt to the southside, following the incident that morning, armed with implements including metal bars and wooden bats.

They located a man in his 20s in the Pearse Rd area, near a home which had been targeted in a petrol bomb attack earlier this year.

The man fled and a car chase ensued, which ended when one of the vehicles involved crashed near Virgin Media Park (Musgrave Park) on Tramore Rd.

He was then assaulted and later taken to hospital for treatment. He has since been discharged.

Local residents and officials are concerned about any possible repeat of the violence seen on Tuesday.

Gardaí responded in large numbers when they received calls about the car chase in Ballyphehane.

Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, who lives in the area, has called for an increased Garda presence in the area to prevent any further escalation of the violence.

"The community in Ballyphehane is naturally still very worried, and I do think is in need of reassurance,” Mr Ó Laoghaire told the Irish Examiner.

“Clearly there is a lot of concern about a potential reoccurrence of something of this kind — this is a very settled and tightknit community, so this has come as a huge shock.

“I do think it’s really important that there is a continued high-visibility Garda presence to ensure that there are no further incidents, and a quick response if anything does develop."

Mr Ó Laoghaire urged anyone with information on Tuesday’s incident to come forward to gardaí.

“I would also repeat that it is important that people involved in criminal action face justice, so if people have information they should come forward and supply that information to the Gardaí."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.