GARDAÍ WERE last night questioning four people following an incident at a Co Clare primary school during which a man was chased through a classroom by at least one person wielding a weapon.
The incident happened in a packed classroom in Ennis yesterday after a row broke out while children were preparing to be collected by parents.
One witness said one of the gang had a plastic bag over his face.
The mayor of Ennis, Michael Guilfoyle, said: “This kind of violent behaviour is totally unacceptable, but when it happens on the grounds of a primary school it is an absolute disgrace.
“I would ask anyone who witnessed anything to tell the gardaí and assist them in their investigation.
“I would also call on those working with the Travelling community, and those who speak on behalf of Travellers, to sit down with them and explain what their responsibilities are as well as the consequences of their actions before someone else is seriously hurt.”
The incident began shortly before 1.45pm outside the Holy Family junior school on Station Road in Ennis, just yards from the town’s main street.
A man ran from his parked vehicle into the school grounds and through a classroom in an effort to escape his assailants.
A witness said: “There was a man parked in his car waiting to collect a child when a woman pulled out on the road and roared abuse at him. She was holding up all the traffic and was just hurling all sorts at him. The school warden asked her to move along because the kids were about to come out, and a few minutes later all hell broke loose.”
While the man sat in his car waiting for his child a second vehicle pulled up and several men and women got out.
According to one parent: “Some of them had their faces covered and they were carrying a machete and what looked like a hockey stick. One fella had a plastic bag over his head like those two lads on telly. The man in the car ran off into the school and across the grass and through one of the classrooms, maybe two. I think he got away from them.”
At least one woman approached the man’s parked vehicle and smashed most of the windows.
The car was taken away for technical examination.
The incident is believed to be linked to an inter-family feud and follows on from a previous incident over the weekend.