This article is from page 1 of the 2012-10-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
ENNIS Courthouse was witness to some chaotic scenes last week as fighting broke out on several occasions in the foyer of the building as cases were being heard inside the courtroom.
An eyewitness described the scenes as “something out of the wild west” as people attacked each other as court cases were being heard just yards away on the other side of the courtroom door.
The noise and screaming from the incidents required the court to be stopped as gardaí rushed outside to intervene.
The court was interrupted on three separate occasions as a result and 29 gardaí were forced to deal with con- frontations between various families in the foyer of the courthouse. Three people appeared in court on Tuesday charged in connection with the events. Insp Kennedy told the court subsequently that there were indications that more people could be charged in connection with the disturbances.
Judge Patrick Durcan said the business of the court had been greatly disturbed on Tuesday.
He said, “Twenty nine members of the gardaí on three occasions had to leave at speed and stop a melee that was audibly evident.”
He added; “This kind of behaviour around courthouses will not be tolerated.”