Two women have been charged in connection to an alleged assault on another woman which forced a department store in Longford town to close yesterday.
A woman aged in her 20s and from Longford town was allegedly set upon by two other women while she was shopping in Penneys at Longford Shopping Centre shortly after 3pm.
Gardaí raced to the scene soon afterwards where they arrested the two alleged female suspects.
Both were brought to Longford garda station and detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
All three were believed to have been inside the store and inadvertently spotted each other.
The alleged incident is believed to have been witnessed by shoppers and staff.
A brawl between the trio quickly ensued with both alleged assailants and victim ending up on the floor.
The alleged victim sustained a gash over her left eye as a result of the fracas.
Detectives are also trying to establish if a weapon was found at the scene and in the possession of one of the alleged suspects.
It is understood both females are related to the alleged victim, leading gardaí to investigate whether the incident is part of an ongoing inter-family traveller related feud.
Part of that inquiry is believed to date back to another, separate incident on Longford’s Main Street last month in which two sisters were charged with assault.
Prior to that, a man in his late 20s and who is related to one of the alleged suspects in yesterday’s incident was knocked over in January by a Ford Transit van in a suspected hit and run in a nearby Longford housing estate.
Both women are to appear before a sitting of Longford District Court next Tuesday.