“Terrifying’ Laois cemetery masses in jeopardy after Portlaoise knife brawl
Armed Gardaí attend Abbeyleix cemetery following ‘terrifying’ knife brawl at mass in Portlaoise cemetery
Portlaoise MD councillors fear that the brawl by some members of the Traveller community on Cemetery Sunday in Portlaoise, could threaten the future of all annual cemetery masses in Laois.
Municipal District councillors and Laois County council have invited Portlaoise Gardaí, Laois Traveller Action Group and Monsignor Byrne to meet over the knife attacks between Traveller families in the midst of 5,000 attendees at the St Peter & Paul’s Cemetery Mass on May 31.
Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley who is on the committee, tabled a motion to the June meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District asking for the meeting.
She had been on volunteer duty on the day, stopping some cars entering the cemetery.
“We don’t want this kind of trouble, everybody going in with weapons on them, the committee was threatened by people who tried to get in.
“We stopped people going in in vehicles but the committee doesn’t have the power to stop people walking in. An Garda Siochána does under the Public Order act but I want to acknowledge the work the committee did, every one was on gates, we had to lock gates. They kept the community safe as well.
“Less than an hour before I noticed the high level of Gardaí, and I thought it was because of last year, and people felt safe. Forty minutes later it kicked off, it was absolutely disgraceful, terrifying.
“Grown men and women were coming out crying. It was pitiful listening to Monsignor Byrne pleading from the altar to stop and desist.
“The future of the Mass is at risk. I don’t believe for one minute that six or 10 people should hold the county to ransom, but of course public safety has to be the priority.
“The week up to the mass there had been a lot of funerals, sadly. Some people had been buried only the day before, so it was very raw for people to have to attend and see this happen.The Gardaí really did protect a lot of people. We await the date of a meeting to work towards making it safe,” Cllr Dwane Stanley said.
Her motion asked Laois County Council to convene a meeting, and the council in reply says it will support all measures agreed to prevent “anti-social behaviour” at the burial ground, and collaborate with all parties.
“Laois Traveller Action Group is the representative body. I’m not apportioning blame but we need them in the room to see who they can influence.
“This can never happen again,” Cllr Dwane Stanley added.
Cllr Marie Tuohy had seconded the motion, and said the incident had “stolen the peace of mind of people”.
Cllr Tommy Mulligan said that two men who were “slashed” walked by him.
“That was a terrifying experience. For anyone to see people that were slashed, on their ears and under the eye, and that blood, it was something that no child should have to witness. I’m sure it has an impact on people, young or old. It was a terrifying experience, disgusting,” he said.
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald who is also on the committee, thanked the Gardaí.
“I believe the Gardaí played a crucial role. A lot of people said to me, only for the Gardaí, they restored law and order. I want to convey our thanks to them,” she said.
“Normally Cemetery Sunday is a nice day for families, meeting old neighbours and friends. It can be very hard, when it’s the first year they have to go,” she said.
The incident meant that a large Garda presence was also at the Abbeyleix and Ballyroan Cemetery Sunday Mass, described as “a knock-on effect” by Cllr Barry Walsh and Cllr John Joe Fennelly.
“There was an armed response unit at Abbeyleix behind the church. In the end the mass was moved into the church because of the weather,” Cllr Walsh said.
“This has a severe knock-on effect for every other cemetery mass. In Abbeyleix on the following Saturday and Sunday, we had guards in the graveyard. That should never have to happen. I thank the Gardaí and the Portlaoise committee,” said Cllr Fennelly.
Cllr Paddy Buggy believes civilians might have “stepped forward” if the Gardaí had not been at the Portlaoise cemetery.
“I hope we’re able to have it again next year, It has put a lot of other places now… they are worried there will be a repeat of this going forward this year. I hope there isn’t. There’s still some cemetery services to take place around the county. I hope that this is the last of it now,” he said.
“I met a couple of elderly people who were traumatised, who were at the epicentre. They are worried whether they should go back next year,” he said.
He praised Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley for her “trojan work” on the gate.
“As I was going in I saw you had to stand up to people. Everyone on the committee did a great job. It’s terrible to think it could be put in jeopardy because of this,” he said.
Laois County Council director Simon Walton said a letter of thanks will be sent to the Gardaí.
“I know the chief executive has been in direct contact with An Garda Síochána and other council members also. That engagement will continue,” he said.