An ongoing feud between two rival Traveller families escalated into a full scale riot last weekend, sparking a litany of violent outbreaks, criminal damage and havoc for members of the general public across the city.Amongst those hospitalised were a man shot with a pellet gun and another who was stabbed a number of times with a hatchet. Four houses were firebombed and one car burnt out and, at one point, Waterford Regional Hospital had to be shut down to one entrance and one exit, with Gardai on duty at the door, to prevent further violence taking place within the A&E Department.
A heavy garda presence remained in both the hospital and several residential areas all weekend, with a number of Traveller families moving their children out of their homes for fear of further arson attacks. Four people remained in custody in relation to the incidents at time of going to press, with a fifth man brought before Waterford District Court on Tuesday morning on an assault charge.
The violence erupted in the Six Cross Roads area on Saturday afternoon when a bout of bare knuckle boxing organised to settle an ongoing feud between two Traveller families developed into a violent clash. This resulted in a number of men being brought to Waterford Regional Hospital, where two were treated for head injuries and another two for hand wounds.
At around 5pm gardai were called to the Birchwood estate, on the Airport Road, following reports that a firearm had been discharged. As a result of this incident, three men were brought to WRH and treated for pellet gun wounds. Their injuries were not thought to be serious and at least two were released within a few hours.
Armed gardai were deployed to WRH whilst the injured were being treated and it is understood that many people visiting sick relatives at the hospital were asked to leave for safety reasons throughout Saturday afternoon, with patients in the A&E Department witnessing scenes of further aggression whilst those caught up in the feud waited to be seen by medical staff. The HSE has declined to comment on claims that a nurse was hurt while attending to the wounded in the A&E unit, save to say that security arrangements at Waterford Regional Hospital, as required from time to time, were co-ordinated in co-operation with An Gárda Síochána.
Later that night houses in both Ardmore Terrace in Ballybeg and Birchwalk in Birchwood were firebombed and a further two suspected arson attacks occurred on Sunday night at Richardson’s Meadow and Crystal Court, Kilcohan. A car was also burnt out at Birchwood.
It is not known if a shoplifting incident at Homebase on Sunday afternoon was connected to the weekend’s incidents: a group of men are believed to have entered the DIY store and taken a selection of hatchets, axes and other items which could be used as weapons.
Extra officers were deployed across the city all weekend to prevent more violence, with the incidents severely testing Garda resources in the area. An armed garda presence continued at a number of estates early in the week, including Farran Park, Birchwood, Kilcohan and Ballybeg. See Council report on page 2..
Timeline
Saturday, 2pm – Gardai were alerted to an incident in the Six Cross Roads area. What is believed to have started as a bare kunckle boxing bout had escalated into a fracas. A number of people were injured and taken to Waterford Regional Hospital, including a man who had been hit a number of times with a hatchet.
Saturday, 5pm – Gardai were called to the Birchwood estate, close to St John’s Park, following reports that a firearm had been discharged. Further violence had broken out and three were injured, amongst them a man who had been shot with an air rifle. They were taken to WRH.
Gardai were forced to shut the hospital down to one entrance and one exit with Gardai on duty at the door when hostilities broke out within A&E. The HSE has declined to comment on claims that a nurse was injured whilst attending to the wounded. A heavy garda presence remained at WRH throughout Sunday and Monday
Early hours of Sunday morning – two suspected cases of arson occurred at Ardmore Terrace, Ballybeg and Birchwood, when houses were petrol-bombed
Sunday afternoon – a group of men entered Homebase and stole a number of items, including axes and hatchets
Early hours of Monday morning- a further two cases of suspected arson occurred, when houses in Richardson’s Meadow and Crystal Court, Kilcohan were petrol-bombed. A car was also burnt out in Birchwood.
