Tensions high in Limerick town as armed gardai patrol streets after vehicle rammed

TENSIONS are high in Kilmallock this Monday as an ongoing dispute between rival Traveller families threatens to erupt.

One car was rammed off the road in the early hours of the morning. The occupants of both vehicles fled the scene.

Later in the day, a car full of men with balaclavas and slash hooks was spotted in the town.

Gardai responded quickly with the Armed Regional Support Unit deployed to back up local uniformed officers carrying out numerous patrols in Kilmallock.

A vehicle was rammed onto a wall and into a ditch on the edge of Kilmallock around 5.30am this Monday. 

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Emergency services, including gardai and firefighters from the Kilmallock station, responded to the scene.

A garda spokesperson confirmed officers attended the scene of a two-vehicle road traffic collision on Wolfe Tone Street in Kilmallock.

“Occupants of both vehicles left the scene of the incident before the arrival of gardaí,” said the spokesperson.

The car (pictured above) was seized by gardai.

Around noon, a vehicle full of men with balaclavas and slash hooks were seen in the town. Gardai are understood to be searching for this vehicle.

A garda spokesperson appealed for witnesses to come forward with any information being treated in strict confidentiality.

“Investigating gardaí are appealing to anyone who was in the Wolfe Tone Street area of Kilmallock, County Limerick on Monday morning between 5am and 6am and who may have information relating to the incident (including mobile phone or dash-cam footage) to contact them.

“Gardaí can be contacted at Bruff garda station on 061 382940, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station,” said the spokesperson.

Limerick Live understands the incidents were sparked by a man associated with one of the Traveller families being allegedly assaulted in a pub, not located in Kilmallock, in recent days.