SENTENCES were imposed yesterday on the 15th day of the "trial of the tribes" in Co Galway.
Judge John Neilan carried out his threat to impose stringent sentences on those convicted on charges arising from rioting between two traveller clans in Tuam last June.
Prison sentences ranging from three months to two years were imposed on those found guilty of assault, occasioning actual bodily harm and public order offences.
The charges arose following two days of sporadic violence between the rival Ward and McDonagh families, which began at a traveller's funeral in Tuam cemetery on June 2nd, 1996, and culminated with an attack on the McDonagh home by more than 100 members of the Ward family the following day.
In almost all eases convicted defendants are required to enter into a personal bond to keep the peace and comply with set conditions imposed by the court.
Judge Neilan also ordered that 16 of the defendants be each disqualified from driving for 25 years.
Imposing peace bond conditions requiring independent sureties of up to £5,000, Judge Neilan said the travelling community could look on this as an investment in their own future and the money would be returned if the bond conditions were adhered to.
The first conviction yesterday was of Anthony Ward jnr, of Tuam, who was given several concurrent 12 month sentences for assault and a consecutive one year sentence for assaulting Garda Joe Cosgrove.
The judge said this defendant would be allowed to enter a bond to keep the peace next November 14th on his own surety of £500 and an independent cash surety of £5,000.
If he enters into this bond, the second half of is sentence will be suspended.
The bond is to run for three years and the conditions require the defendant to live at the address given in court.
He must not for any purpose or at any time, save for gainful employment, travel beyond a two mile radius of the Telecom Eireann Communications Tower located in the centre of Tuam without first notifying the Garda superintendent. He must also state the purpose of his journey and destination. Twenty four hours' notice will be required before undertaking any such journey.
Peace bond conditions were imposed on 16 of the defendants and conditions set out in the ease of Ward are to apply to all except two defendants with Galway city addresses, who will be confined to an area of four miles radius of Galway courthouse.
Judge Neilan also insisted that those entering bonds who wish to travel for employment purposes would have to show proof of employment and produce PRSI numbers and other documentation to assure the court that they had legitimate jobs.
He said anyone claiming to be self employed would have to produce documentation from the Revenue Commissioners to prove they were involved in legitimate businesses and their tax affairs were in order.
He added that his court would not support the black economy in any way.
Judge Neilan said the conditions of the bonds were not designed to make life difficult for those involved, but to assist the gardai in monitoring the movements of certain people and to ensure public safety.
Recognisances were fixed in all cases in the event of an appeal.