Three men were refused bail when they appeared on assault charges at Edenderry District Court in Co Offaly yesterday.
Before the court were Mr Thomas Oliver Keenan (19), charged with assaulting Patrick McGinley, and Mr John Duignan (20), charged with assaulting William McGinley. Both defendants have addresses at Willow Park, Strokestown Road, Longford. Mr William McGinley, also of Willow Park, was charged with assaulting Ms Julia Ward.
Judge John Neilan said that it appeared to him that the travelling community had now elected to move outside the democratic system in settling their differences.
The court heard that the charges related to incidents at Willow Park last Monday in which another member of the travelling community was assaulted and seriously injured. Garda Sgt Tony Parker told the court that the injured man was fighting for his life in Mullingar General Hospital.
Judge Neilan also heard that, as a result of a fracas, the population of the travelling community in Longford had increased threefold by 10 p.m. on Monday night and the people of Longford were living in fear.
Det Sgt Aidan Glacken said he was opposing bail on the grounds that the three faced more serious charges and also that they would interfere with witnesses.