FOURTEEN PEOPLE have been arrested and a selection of weapons seized as part of an investigation into feuding activity centred "primarily" in the Travelling community in Co Waterford, gardaí said yesterday.
Shotguns, dozens of petrol bombs and a number of swords were uncovered during the operation, which gardaí hope can assist in limiting the amount of criminal activity and disorderly conduct in the area.
It is understood that a series of public order incidents began earlier this month when a man was seriously injured in an assault in Waterford.
The feud has led to one man being treated in hospital in Waterford for a pellet gun wound while another man received medical attention after an attack with a hatchet.
Gardaí began their operation after a number of homes were targeted in petrol bomb attacks and several families were forced to move out of their homes amid fears of similar incidents.
As part of the investigation, gardaí have carried out a series of raids in the past fortnight on homes, properties and on open and waste ground in the Waterford city area, with officers recovering dozens of weapons.
Two sawn-off shotguns, 37 petrol bombs, a quantity of ammunition and an assortment of weapons including slash hooks, machetes, hammers, swords, knives and hatchets, were found during the operation.
Nine of the 14 men arrested during the operation have been charged "with a variety of offences" under the Criminal Justice Acts and Offences against the State Act, gardaí said.
The men, who are aged between 22 and 59, were all remanded in custody to appear before Waterford District Court later this week.
The possession of firearms and explosives, were among the offences the men were charged with at sittings of Waterford District Court between July 12th and 18th.
A Garda spokesman said "significant resources" had been invested in the operation in recent weeks.
The operation is "directed at disrupting this activity and ensuring a safe and secure community for everyone in the Waterford area", the spokesman said.
The investigation is ongoing and high-visibility patrols are to be maintained across the Waterford area involving uniformed and armed personnel in the coming days and weeks if necessary, the spokesman added.
