An appeal’s been issued again for witnesses to what’s been described as violent clashes at a county Laois cemetery.
Up to fifty people were involved in a brawl during Sunday lunchtime’s annual ‘blessing of the graves’ at Saints Peter and Paul graveyard on the Stradbally Road in Portlaoise where two people were injured one of whom, a man aged in his forties, is in hospital for injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.
Garda public order units were called to restore calm and four men, two aged in their twenties with two juveniles, were arrested – they appeared before Portlaoise District Court yesterday (Monday) morning.
Independent Councillor Caroline Dwane Stanley was there and says; “It was just mayhem, absolute mayhem, what was going on in the graveyard; there was knives drawn, there was all kinds of antics, one man had his hand held to the side of his neck where there was blood pumping out the side of his neck and we asked him what had happened, he said he had been stabbed and we beckoned him to go down around the corner to the hospital”.
Gardaí say investigations are ongoing and they’re keen to speak with those who were in the area between 12noon and 1:30pm on Sunday, in particular those who may have footage of any form – investigators can be contacted at Portlaoise Garda Station (057) 867 4100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or you can contact any Garda Station.
