CLOSE to 20 people involved in a major feud between Traveller factions in Co Kerry were jailed yesterday.
A number of others were given suspended prison sentences or heavy fines after being convicted of offences involving damage to property, assault, affray and possession of weapons.
The centre of Tralee saw a major Garda operation when 32 people appeared before a special sitting of the District Court on charges relating to a feud in Tralee and Castleisland.
Several of the leading figures in rival factions were taken away in handcuffs to prison vans lined up outside on Ashe Street.
When the court rose yesterday evening, close to 20 men were jailed, and at least six others received suspended sentences.
The litany of offences involved violence against persons and property, public order offences and breach of bail conditions.
The crowded court heard how cars had been rear-ended and smashed during the summer in Tralee town centre.
In one instance, a vehicle stopped in traffic was suddenly surrounded by people wielding slash hooks.
The court also heard of a riot in the Mitchels Crescent area and of Travellers from Cork being caught up in tit-for-tat violence in which several cars and windows of houses were smashed in July.
In late October, five people were arrested outside the weekly sitting of the court when a serious public order issue arose and the court had to be adjourned briefly.
Most of those jailed yesterday had previous convictions – for theft, violence, damage to property and drugs-related offences.
The majority were unemployed and had been granted free legal aid.
Up to 80 gardaí were on duty, including 22 members of the Garda regional public order unit, and 50 gardaí from Tralee and Killarney, many of whom wore protective body vests.
Noisy disturbances between the factions resulted in two people being taken from the public gallery into custody.
The Kerry Travellers’ Development Project, an independent mediator in the dispute, said a minority of Travellers were involved.
Owen McCarthy, project co-ordinator, said: “The management, staff and volunteers remain very concerned at the negative impact of this conflict on the majority of Traveller families in the county who are living peacefully.”