Six Travellers were yesterday banned from Co Clare after being charged in connection with a "serious public order disturbance" in Ennis town centre on Wednesday morning.
Supt Éamon Dolan said Garda reinforcements were called from Shannon, Ennistymon and Corofin to deal with a disturbance at a Traveller engagement party at Brandon's pub.
He told the court yesterday: "A serious public disturbance took place. A lot of criminal damage was done to Brandon's pub and to nearby properties with windows broken. Also, there were attempts to remove two tills from Brandon's during the disturbance."
He added: "I am not saying that any of the people before the court were connected to what I have outlined, but the Garda investigation into the disturbance is continuing and we hope to examine CCTV footage of what took place."
In all, seven Travellers appeared before Ennistymon District Court over the incident - six from Co Limerick and a youth from Ennis, Co Clare.
All are charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaving with intent to provoke a breach of the peace contrary to Section 6 of the Public Order Act.
The seven were arrested at about 1.30am on Wednesday. The seven are two brothers Alan O'Brien (20) and Luke O'Brien (22) both of Castleview Estate, Newcastle West, and their cousin, John O'Brien (18) Ash Crescent, Newcastle West, Michael Quilligan (21) Knockane Road, Newcastle West, William Kavanagh (18) Castleview, Newcastle West, and another teenager from Newcastle West who cannot be named for legal reasons. The seventh person charged is Bernie Mongan (18) Clancy Park, Ennis. All made no reply when charged.
Supt Dolan said gardaí would object to bail as they could not confirm the identity of the seven. But after one of the accused said he played soccer with a garda in the court in Newcastle West and the garda identified the man, Supt Dolan dropped objections to bail.
Judge Joseph Mangan remanded all seven in custody with consent to bail. He ordered that the six Co Limerick defendants stay out of Co Clare and that Bernie Mongan stay out of Ennis town centre and observe a night-time curfew.
He further ordered that all seven lodge an independent surety of €1,000, cash bond of €1,000 and own bond of €1,000 in order to secure bail.
They will re-appear in Ennis District Court tomorrow.