Ten people are due in court on public order offences after serious disturbances took place in Galway during an international car rally at the weekend, writes Lorna Siggins.
At least one Galway residents' association has called for the Statoil International Rally to be cancelled in future due to disturbances. This is the second year in which arrests have been made for public order offences during the event.
Some 30 gardai in riot gear had to baton-charge a large crowd at Salthill, just outside the city, early yesterday morning. The trouble started at the Seapoint/Salthill roundabout when several groups in a crowd of about 1,000 began throwing stones, bottles and missiles at gardai shortly before 1 a.m. The trouble continued until 4.30 a.m. at the roundabout and around Salthill church car park.