A Garda inspector has repeated a warning that "someone will die" if order is not restored in a Traveller feud in the midlands.
The warning came as a number of men were remanded in custody in Mullingar Court yesterday until next week as gardaí try to calm tensions between local families.
Insp Denis Shiels said yesterday a house was "completely and utterly wrecked" in a daylight attack. Another attack took place on a van near a local school, he said.
In November, gardaí investigating the feud seized what they called an assortment of "weapons of war", including a sawn-off shotgun.
A man who denies he is one of the feud's ringleaders told Mullingar court yesterday that the row started when fair play was not observed in a bare-knuckle fight.
Mr Patrick Nevin, O'Growny Drive, Mullingar, said he was not present at the fight. In court yesterday, he was one of several men remanded in custody until next Thursday's sitting. Mr Nevin also denied a suggestion by gardaí that he was the "head of the Nevin household in Mullingar".
When he was remanded he said: "If the sky fell down, I would be blamed for it."
Also remanded in custody for a week were: Mr Gerard Nevin, with an address in Perth, Scotland; Mr John Ward, Glenview Park, Sligo; Mr John Nevin, Fairgreen, Mullingar; Mr Michael Nevin, St Michael's, Mullingar; Mr David Nevin, Gardiner Mills, Balbriggan, Co Dublin; and Mr Hugh Nevin, The Village, Portlaoise.
Mr John Nevin was remanded on bail to also appear before Thursday's court. He was ordered not to leave his home after 8 p.m.