Members of two feuding Limerick gangs appeared in court yesterday in connection with a fight outside the District Court in the city yesterday morning.
The court heard that one of the men involved in the dispute was later found to be wearing a bullet-proof vest and that one of the factions also had "reinforcements" waiting in two vehicles near the courthouse in case they were needed during the row.
The court was told that one of the men, Declan Sheehy, had been heard threatening to "blow away" members of the rival faction during the fight. Garda Ronan McDonagh told the court that he heard Sheehy saying: "We'll blow the rest of you away."
Garda McDonagh said that when he heard the threat he understood this to mean that "more blood would be spilled in this feud". Sheehy, of St Ida's Street, Limerick, has a series of previous convictions for public order offences, aggravated burglary, larceny and malicious damage by fire.
One of those belonging to the opposing faction was John Ryan, of Lee Estate. He is the uncle of Kieran and Eddie Ryan, the two men abducted by armed and masked men in the city last Thursday.
One Garda witness told the court that Ryan had been subjected to "atrocious" taunting outside the courthouse before the running battle broke out yesterday.
Ryan, who has been involved in the search for his nephews, was granted bail, while the other six men were remanded in custody.
A total of seven men were brought before Judge Tom O'Donnell at Limerick District Court in connection with yesterday's gang fight.
In one faction were: Daniel Sheehy, of St Munchin's Street, who had been found wearing the bullet-proof vest; Kenneth Woodland, of Canonbreen; Noel Woodland, of Lee Estate; John Humphreys, of Keane Street; and Declan Sheehy.
Among those in the other faction were Michael Stanners, of Delmege Park, and Ryan.
All of the men faced public order charges relating to the incident outside the courthouse.
The court was told that the men had gathered in the vicinity of the courthouse yesterday morning. Following taunting, members of the opposing gangs "ran at each other" just before noon. The opposing gangs first began verbally abusing each other in the foyer of the courthouse before violence erupted outside.
Gardaí at the scene intervened, the row was broken up and seven arrests were made. One garda used his baton in an attempt to break up the disturbance.
The seven men were brought to Henry Street Garda station and were later returned to the District Court to face public order offences before Judge Tom O'Donnell.
Insp Jim Brown told the court that "very provocative taunting" could be heard before the disturbance broke out. He said that he "would have a certain amount of sympathy" for John Ryan because of the "outrageous" nature of how he was being taunted".
Insp Brown also told the court that gardaí had intercepted "reinforcements" belonging to one of the gangs as they sat in a car and van in Nicholas Street. These "reinforcements", he believed, were on standby to be called in if the need arose.
Mr Ted McCarthy, solicitor for Daniel Sheehy, told Judge O'Donnell that he had not received instructions from his client relating to the charges against him. However, Mr McCarthy said that Sheehy had instructed him that he, Sheehy, wanted the return of "property" taken from him by the gardaí after the violence earlier that morning. That property was a bullet-proof vest.
The Judge replied: "Are you telling me this accused came to Limerick Circuit Court wearing a bullet-proof vest?"
Mr McCarthy replied that he was carrying out his client's instructions in asking for the return of the vest.
The vest was not returned.
Insp Brown told the court that gardaí were objecting to bail being granted to Sheehy because feelings were "running high" and he was "likely to be involved in serious crimes" if granted bail.
Sheehy was then remanded in custody to appear before Judge O'Donnell again on Thursday.
Ryan was granted bail and ordered to appear before the court on Friday. Stanners entered a guilty plea and was remanded in custody to appear before the court for sentencing next month. The other four, who entered pleas of guilty, were remanded in custody and will appear for sentencing on Friday.