Limerick town was like a game of ‘Grand Theft Auto’

THE GOOD people of Rathkeale woke up this Tuesday to a social media storm - not of their own making - as footage of the aftermath of a number of rival families ramming each other off the road on Monday afternoon went viral

A number of weapons including machetes were thrown around the R523 on the way into the town following the dangerous driving and public order incidents.

One local told Limerick Live "it was like dodgems" while another said "it was like Grand Theft Auto, only in real life".

Cllr Adam Teskey visited the scene on Monday, which had been cordoned off by gardai, as they commenced their investigation.

“It was one of absolute chaos, complete thuggery of the highest order which cannot be facilitated within society. We need extra armed resources  to be brought into the town. This is not the norm for Rathkeale,” said Cllr Teskey, who spoke of the effect on the business community.

"This is doing no service or justification to the town and  to the business people who create valued employment and at this time of the year when they need to be supported,” said Cllr Teskey.

WATCH: Limerick gardai appeal for witnesses over vehicles being 'rammed' in Rathkeale

Minister for State Niall Collins who also visited Rathkeale, condemned the "senseless violence". 

"This is not behaviour that can be tolerated in a civilised society. It is a miracle that an innocent person wasn't seriously hurt or even worse. Parents were collecting their children around this time.

"It was a very upsetting experience for locals and bears no reflection on the good people of Rathkeale who are having their town's good name sullied by a minority," said Mr Collins.

Cllr Kevin Sheahan said it was "scandalous".

"Anything that happens of this magnitude is totally unacceptable but to imagine that it is happening during normal trading hours when people are trying to do their business, children coming from school - it must be horrific for children to witness any of this nonsense.

"We had warned, some of us, in your newspaper that it was getting bad and what was going to happen or likely to happen in Rathkeale. I know the last two or three years have been relatively quiet in Rathkeale and we dropped our defences,” said Cllr Sheahan.

The long-serving councillor said it is terribly unfair on the vast majority of the Travelling community in Rathkeale. 

"As a councillor I work for some of them and they don’t want to know about this nonsense. I have been shown extraordinary friendship from men, women and children in houses that I have visited. It is always a minority that spill the paint and everybody gets a splash of it,” said Cllr Sheahan, who called for a garda presence in the Rathkeale "morning, noon and night".

Minister for State Patrick O’Donovan said the perpetrators need to be dealt with by every the element of the law.

"Not just the gardai but Customs and Excise and the Revenue as well. I have been in touch with the Minister for Justice on the matter. This is totally intolerable in broad daylight, not even an attempt to conceal it and carrying on with some sort of macho, brainless bravado. 

"It needs to be absolutely unmercifully rooted out by every element of the law. The people associated with this need to be rounded up and dealt with. There is only way to fight intimidation and that is with intimidation. They are not welcome in the area, they have no place in the area and they need to be rooted out,” said Mr O’Donovan.

Minister for Justice Simon Harris has condemned the violent scenes in Rathkeale and urged those with any information that may assist in the ongoing investigations to come forward to An Garda Síochána.

Speaking this morning, Minister Harris said the scenes in Rathkeale were "absolutely unacceptable".

"This Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities – in rural Ireland and in our towns and cities. Everybody has the right to feel safe and to be safe in their homes.

"In response to these scenes yesterday, the Garda Armed Support Unit was deployed rapidly. I have been assured an enhanced policing presence will continue to be part of the policing plan over Christmas to ensure peace and order is maintained in the town," said Mr Harris.

He said garda investigations are ongoing, and they have appealed to any witnesses to contact Rathkeale Garda Station on 069 63 222 "to make sure that those involved can be identified and prosecuted".

"There is no place for this kind of violence in our society. I know the community in Rathkeale is rightly proud of their town and abhor these appalling acts," concluded Mr Harris.