Weapons seized at halting site

Weapons including a machete, dagger and two pickaxe handles were seized by gardai early yesterday after they were attacked at…

Weapons including a machete, dagger and two pickaxe handles were seized by gardai early yesterday after they were attacked at a Travellers' halting site in Waterford.

Gardai who visited Kilbarry halting site at 12.30 a.m. after a report of a disturbance had to retreat after missiles, including a concrete block, were thrown at their patrol car.

A car window was smashed and £1,000 worth of damage caused, said Sgt Michael Nevin of Waterford station.

Gardai later returned to the site and carried out a search in which a machete, a dagger, two pickaxe handles, a hammer and a chisel were seized, Sgt Nevin said. No one was injured and no arrests were made.

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Meanwhile, gardai were present yesterday when Travellers left an IDA industrial estate on the Old Kilmeaden Road, Waterford, where about 25 caravans had arrived last weekend.

A court order for the Travellers' removal was secured by the IDA on Monday, but some Travellers remained yesterday afternoon.

Chris Dooley

Chris Dooley

Chris Dooley is Foreign Editor of The Irish Times