Water meter installers reportedly threatened with rifle

A man was arrested in Clarecastle, Co Clare this morning following reports that water meter installers had been threatened with a rifle.

The 59-year-old man was arrested by armed detectives while authorities tried to locate the firearm. It was later found in a nearby river.

The incident occurred at about 9.20 this morning at Quay Road in Clarecastle where a company contracted to install meters on behalf of Irish Water had been carrying out work in recent days.

It’s understood workers had dug a hole in front of two properties yesterday and were in the process of installing two metres this morning when they were confronted by the man.

It’s believed the man parked his car over the hole preventing installers from completing their work and allegedly approached staff brandishing a firearm.

It had been reported that the firearm was discharged but gardaí now believe this to be untrue. It was also claimed the man pulled the trigger twice.

Workers immediately retreated from the house and moved to a safe area further up the road.

Armed detectives arrived at the scene where they arrested the man. He was taken to Ennis Garda station where he was detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

A follow-up search of the area failed to locate the firearm. However, gardaí and members of Clare Civil Defence carried out a search of the area alongside the River Fergus where they located the firearm in the water.

The weapon was handed over to detectives and taken away for technical examination.

One local man said: “There were no shots fired. There was a stand-off outside one house where they were trying to install two meters in the same hole. I saw all the workers standing together down towards the main street but they went back to work after the guards went away with the man.”

A worker said: “A man came out of the house with a rifle so we just dropped everything and moved away. To be honest, I don’t think he really pointed it at anyone, he was holding it upwards but there were no shots fired.”