Man arrested in connection with Strokestown eviction

Arrest brings to eight the number of people detained for questioning about incident

Dozens of masked men confronted security guards occupying a repossessed home outside Strokestown, Co Roscommon early on Sunday. The violence has been condemned by the authorities. This video captures the site after the eviction. Video: Brian Farrell

A man has been arrested in connection with criminal damage and assaults following an eviction in Co Roscommon last December.

The man who is in his late 30s was arrested on Wednesday evening in Co Meath as part of ongoing investigations into the incident.

He is being detained under section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939, at Castlerea Garda station.

The arrest on Wednesday brings to eight the number of people detained for questioning to date about the incident while two people are currently before the courts.

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It is estimated up to 40 people were involved in the incident at a property in Falsk on December 16th. The incident left eight security guards injured, three of them seriously. A guard dog was also killed and six vehicles were burned out.

The incident occurred a few days after Anthony McGann and his siblings were removed from the property by security guards following its repossession by KBC bank.

The eviction, which was caught on video, led to a significant public outcry, especially among the local community, due in part to what was seen as the heavy-handed tactics employed by the security guards.