Portlaoise Parish Priest has condemned violence that marred the Laois county town’s annual Cemetery Mass which was attended by thousands of local people.
Msgr John Byrne also called for leadership from within the Travelling community to bring an end to such violence that in the Laois case, involved a running brawl in which Portlaoise gardaí have confirmed knives were used, causing injuries on Sunday afternoon, May 31.
While he said there will be a need for reflection and consultation with the gardaí and Laois County Council in the wake of what happened, he said he would hate to see the violence causing the cancellation of the annual Mass in future years because of its importance to many in the community.
Speaking hours after the incident, Msgr Byrne said that while what happened only lasted a few minutes, he described the violence as “horrible and shameful”.
He confirmed that he attempted to quell the violence from the altar once he became aware of the fracas during the Mass attended by young and old.
He said he told those in attendance that everyone is welcome to honour their departed in peace and goodwill.
However, he said he appealed to those fighting that their actions were “absolutely disgraceful and out of order”.
He said their actions were a “dishonour to all the faithful departed”.
Pleading with them to stop, he said he told “those who had come with violence in mind were not welcome”.
Msgr Byrne commended Laois gardaí for getting the situation under control so quickly.
He said he understood that violence involving Travellers had become a pattern at Cemetery Masses.
He believed that leadership is needed in the Travelling Community to acknowledge what happens to prevent further flare-ups in Laois or elsewhere.
“I am always disappointed that they don’t come out and acknowledge that there is a real problem… this is indefensible,” he said.
Msgr Byrne said he knows many Travellers who are “sterling people” but that what happened in Portlaoise “must be acknowledged” by their community.
He also commented on what is one of the biggest public religious gatherings in Laois annually.
“I would absolutely hate to think that 5,000 people who gather in good faith to honour their own departed could not do so because of 30 or 40 individuals. We have to look at other solutions first,” he said.
While he acknowledged there would have to be “reflection” that would involve the relevant authorities, he said he would “hate to have to abandon something that is appreciated by so many”.
Portlaoise Gardaí said a policing plan was in place as gardaí had intelligence that an incident was possible.
There was a large presence of local uniformed gardaí on the scene, backed by the Garda Public Order Unit.
They confirmed that several people were injured and that knives were used in the row. Some of those involved were also arrested.
Gardaí appealed to anyone who was at the Mass and who may have video footage of the violence to provide it to Portlaoise Garda Station to help with what is an ongoing investigation.