TWO MEN have been remanded in custody after gardaí were allegedly petrol-bombed during a feud between members of the Lithuanian community.
Garda Insp Fergus Trainor told Mullingar District Court yesterday that a major investigation was under way to find out the cause of the feud which saw two men arrested after up to 20 Lithuanians were involved in a dispute at a local housing estate.
The inspector said he had grave concerns about the dispute continuing.
He told the court that petrol bombs were thrown at gardaí to stop them as they tried to pursue a number of men.
Mantvydas Uzkuraitis (19), Abbeylands, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, and Nerijus Andriska (22), Lakepoint, Mullingar, were arrested on Sunday night following an incident at the Abbeylands estate, where it is alleged golf clubs, knives and petrol bombs were used.
Both men are charged with possession of knives and Mr Andriska is also charged with threatening, abusive behaviour.
They originally appeared before Longford District Court on Tuesday.
Through their solicitors, both men told Judge Séamus Hughes that they had been defending themselves on the night and that the house where they were staying had been attacked by other Lithuanians.
“Something is going on in this town that gardaí need to get underneath,” said Judge Hughes, who expressed concern at the prospect of groups of people “with their pockets full of stuff like fire-bombs, golf clubs and knives”.
Mr Uzkuraitis has only been in Ireland three weeks and has been living with his brother, who paid his fare to get him here.
He gave up his job in Lithuania, where he was earning €250 a month, because he hoped to get work in Ireland, but he has not yet done so.
Mr Andriska has been living in Ireland for six years.
Both were refused bail and were remanded to Castlerea Prison to appear in Mullingar District Court again next Thursday.
Judge Hughes, who has been outspoken on the responsibility of the court to stamp out feuding among members of the Traveller community in Mullingar, said he would take a very serious attitude to the offences.