Gardaí on alert over 'fears of feud' at Mayo pilgrimage site - report

A special policing plan is to be put in place at Croagh Patrick later this month amid fears a number of feuding families could be involved in violent clashes at the pilgrimage site.

That's according to a report today in the Irish Independent.

The newspaper revealed: "Sources say that gardaí are closely monitoring the situation over concerns that individuals involved in a number of serious and complicated disputes could pitch up at the famous mountain under the guise of climbing it for charity.

"Armed gardaí may patrol Croagh Patrick on Saturday, July 22, if the threat level is deemed to be severe enough on the day, sources said last night.

"There is so much concern about potential violence that Westport gardaí are actively trying to determine who exactly will attend on the day and have requested information from officers nationwide about this."

The report suggests that members of rival gangs could turn up at a gathering at the Reek on the date in question - leading to the prospect of violence breaking out.

The report continued: "Some of those who could attend the religious peak are involved in bitter family feuds in counties Clare, Galway and Mayo where there have been multiple violent incidents in the past year.

"Last December Ennis District Court heard that up to 10 families were involved in different disputes in that Co Clare town alone in which there has been a number of shooting incidents and other violence.

"Detectives in Co Mayo and Co Galway are investigating multiple suspects under Operation Trinomial in an attempt to tackle feuding families in Connacht.

"With multiple family feuds ongoing, gardaí have been investigating incidents of petrol bomb attacks in which property has been severely damaged as well as car-ramming incidents and multiple death threats often made online.

“What is certain if individuals who are involved in these type of feuds turn up in numbers at Croagh Patrick on Saturday week it will not make for a very pleasant day for anyone, a source said.

"Last month seven men were arrested and six were charged before the courts as part of a massive investigation involving 85 gardaí during searches in Ballinrobe and the Ballybane and Bohermore areas of Galway city."