Four men arrested after mass brawl breaks out at Co Laois cemetery

Sarah Slater

Members of the Garda public order unit were called in to disperse crowds at an annual Co Laois cemetery Mass after violence broke out amongst some of the hundreds of people who attended.

Chaos descended at the annual Mass being held at SS Peter and Paul's Cemetery in Portlaoise on Sunday afternoon.

Local gardaí were assisted in large numbers by the public order unit after a violent mass brawl broke out.

The huge brawl resulted in multiple injuries of those present and two arrests were subsequently made by gardai. It is believed that the initial fight began between a small number of attendees but quickly escalated while the blessing of graves was taking place.

A number of weapons, including a large variety of knives, were brandished in the extensive brawl involving close to 50 people.

Independent councillor Caroline Dwane Stanley, who attended the event, described the “scenes and disgraceful violence that took place at a packed Cemetery mass has no place in society.”

The councillor, who is a member of Portlaoise Cemetery Committee, was on the main gates for the Annual Cemetery collection.

Cllr Dwane Stanley thanked garda and the armed response for their “great work” on Sunday.

“I would like to thank Monsignor (John) Byrne and all the clergy who were there today . And I also want to thank the Committee members, particularly those who took terrible abuse when stopping vehicles entering the graveyard,” she continued.

“Finally I want to thank the public for the great contribution to the collection and hopefully it won’t put people off next year . This is a very important community event where we remember our loved ones.”

Portlaoise Parish Priest Monsignor John Byrne also called for leadership called for “an end to such violence”.

Msgr Byrne highlighted that consultation between gardaí and Laois County Council was needed following the incident, as feared for the future of the annual event.

It is understood that a number of members of the Travelling Community were involved in the violent incident.

In a statement, gardaí said that members on duty at an event at Stradbally Road, Portlaoise, “arrested four males following a public order incident at around 1pm”.

The four males (two aged in their 20s and two juveniles) are being detained at Garda stations in the Eastern Region and have been charged to appear before a special sitting of Portlaoise District Court tomorrow (Monday) at 10:30am.

Two people, a man in his 20s and a juvenile male, are being treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Garda investigations are ongoing. Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station at 057 8674100.

Pavee Point, the Travelling community representative body, were contacted for comment.