Senior members of Traveller community called on to mediate after 'shocking' rampaging incident

SENIOR members of the Traveller community have been called on to mediate following a rampaging incident in which a man was shot and a number of vehicles and mobile homes were damaged.

Footage of the incidents, which appear to have been recorded by the perpetrators, has been widely shared on social media and WhatsApp. It shows upwards of a dozen men armed with weapons including a gun, sledgehammers and slash hooks in Ennistymon, County Clare, on Sunday.

The masked and hooded men are seen smashing the windows of cars and mobile homes, and firing shots from a gun. Shouts of "that car there" and breaking glass can be heard. 

A man, aged in his 50s, was hospitalised after a firearm was discharged in the Deerpark area of Ennistymon shortly after 6pm on Sunday. Gardai have confirmed that two men were arrested on Monday evening (see story below).

Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara said the level of lawlessness witnessed in Ennistymon is extreme.

"It is deeply worrying in its brazenness with the perpetrators having apparently videoed their rampage, appearing to expect that they act with impunity. We know from bitter experience of gangland crime in various parts of this country that if and when groups or gangs think they can act with impunity it takes a huge amount of sustained resources to restore order.

"The Government needs to ensure that An Garda Síochána in Clare are resourced now to ensure that such groups and gangs know that they will face repercussions for their actions. The causes of crime and gangland activity, such as deprivation and social exclusion, also must be addressed as a priority, but there can be no excuse for scenes like this," said Mr McNamara.

Fellow Clare TD Cathal Crowe called on senior members of the Traveller community to get involved and ease tensions.

"These feuds aren't always understood but I think that it is important that senior members of the Traveller community try to mediate and bring some form of calm and reconciliation but this must happen in tandem with robust policing from An Garda Siochana," said Deputy Crowe.

The Fianna Fail TD said he will be contacting Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to seek additional resources.

"I know they are overstretched but this act of brutal thuggery requires a strong response from his forces on the ground," said Mr Crowe, who added that he was shocked by the videos he has seen on social media.

"I think it is important that An Garda Siochana come out strong here and show that there are robust laws in the land that  must always be upheld and that nobody can live beyond the law.

"I hope that personnel from beyond the Clare garda division can be drafted in to bring control to this situation. Unfortunately there are a number of feuds brewing at this time and they often spill over into acts of violence like this. I think everyone's worry is the escalation in feuds will leads to bloodshed," he said.