A number of people were arrested following an outbreak of violence at a funeral in Co Mayo that had begun in Shannon on Sunday afternoon.
There were tensions following the removal of the remains of Martin ‘Red Breast’ McDonagh who lived at St Helen’s Park in Ballymurtagh in Shannon. Mr McDonagh passed away on May 11th.
There was a large Garda presence at St Helen’s Park traveller accommodation development at Ballymurtagh in Shannon prior to the removal from a local funeral home.
Dozens of people could be seen standing on the roadside outside the unit before cars were allowed leave the area and make their way to the church.
Members of the Garda Armed Support Unit along with local officers provided a visible presence around the church.
During the removal, a collision occurred at the nearby Aidan Park junction. It’s believed that was a deliberate ramming linked to persons attending the funeral. It’s understood two cars were involved and that one narrowly missed the hearse.
The funeral continued on to Ballyhaunis on Sunday afternoon for Mr McDonagh’s funeral at St Patrick’s Church.
Earlier today, during another violent outbreak in Ballyhaunis, two men were injured and hospitalised and at least one other car rammed. Several others were arrested.