Members of a west of Ireland Muslim community and a group of Travellers were involved in a confrontation in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, yesterday.
Tempers flared when some Muslims found the entry to their homes blocked by a number of caravans. The Muslims, who have their own mosque to cater for a growing population which mostly works in the meat industry, were also angry because the windows in two homes had been broken.
Gardaí were called around 11 a.m. to the Dawn Meats plant car-park at Clare Street and negotiations took place to defuse the situation.The Travellers agreed to pay for the damage to the windows which was not malicious. It is understood the glass was broken inadvertently by Traveller children throwing stones indiscriminately across a wall.
Extra gardaí were brought into the town to keep an eye on the Dawn Meats car-park which has been occupied since Saturday by up to 250 travellers in 45 caravans. Publicans have been closing their premises at around 8 p.m. since the weekend because of fears of trouble.