Major garda investigation in Limerick town after ‘vicious’ videos of girls fighting shared widely

A NUMBER of arrests have been made in a County Limerick town following an escalation in antisocial behaviour in recent weeks.

Up to 15 gardai are involved in a major investigation into what has been described as a “wave of antisocial behaviour” in Kilmallock.

Uniformed gardai from Kilmallock and Bruff and detectives from Bruff, Newcastle West and the city have been investigating a number of incidents, some of which have been widely shared on social media. 

One of the videos seen by Limerick Live shows a vicious fight between two underage females while others watch on. The second video shows a juvenile female being assaulted, again with a number of parties in the vicinity. The incidents took place on dates in June.

Superintendent Paul Reidy, with responsibility for County Limerick, confirmed that three arrests have been made in recent days.

Gardai arrested two juvenile females - one on Saturday and Sunday - in respect of one of the videos.

“Gardai are carrying out an extensive investigation, identifying the parties concerned and we will continue to take a very proactive course of action,” said Supt Reidy, who added that gardai are engaging with social services and Tusla.

"They are working hand-in-hand with the gardai in trying to deal with all the issues that are arising," he said.

Separately, a male teenager was arrested in Kilmallock on Monday and charged at Limerick District Court in connection with an assault of a female teenager and possession of an offensive weapon on separate dates in May and June. He was released on bail subject to strict conditions including to stay out of certain areas of Kilmallock.

Supt Reidy said gardai are “very aware of the current wave of antisocial behaviour in Kilmallock” and are carrying out extra mobile patrols in the town.

“We have been endeavoring to identify those involved, gather the information and evidence that we require to enable us to carry out these arrests which commenced on Saturday, continued into Sunday and Monday in relation to all of this antisocial behaviour and assaults that have occurred in the Kilmallock area,” said Supt Reidy.

The superintendent requested members of the public who have information to come forward.

“Direct action didn’t take place before Saturday because we were getting our evidence, gathering it, compiling it, identifying our suspects, developing a plan and putting it in place.

“That plan commenced on Saturday when we carried out our first arrest and continued on Sunday and Monday,” said Supt Reidy.

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The senior garda also wished to thank a number of witnesses who have come forward and made statements to assist the gardai in investigating these matters.

“We are very thankful to all of the witnesses that have come forward and assisted us in gathering this evidence and enabling us to go and make these arrests because without those witnesses we wouldn't be able to proceed with these matters. We want to thank those people especially for their assistance,” said Supt Reidy.

The major garda investigation which involves uniformed officers in Bruff and Kilmallock and detectives in Bruff, Newcastle West and the city, under Supt Dermot O’Connot who heads up the Limerick Crime Functional Area, continues in Kilmallock.