Members of rival Mayo/Galway criminal gangs appear in court

Members of what gardai described as 'two rival criminal gangs' have been told not to set foot in Mayo or they will end up behind bars.

Detective Inspector Denis Harrington told Judge Fiona Lydon this afternoon (Thursday) that the seven men appearing before her at Castlebar District Court were from two feuding gangs who had unleashed a stream of violence against one another in recent months.

He alleged that serious physical assualts, gun attacks and pipe bomb and petrol bomb attacks in South Mayo and Galway had left many people in fear in recent months and led to numerous daily armed checkpoints occurring day and night in and around the town of Ballinrobe.

“Ordinary decent people are afraid to go about their daily lives,” Harrington stated.

Three brothers, Christopher (25), Colman (19) and James Barrett (24) all of Lough Mask Road in Ballinrobe were before the court on charges of assault, production of offensive weapons and public order offences. Despite Garda objections, they were all granted bail on very strict conditions.

They were ordered to leave their home in Ballinrobe and live with relatives in other parts of the country. They were ordered not to set foot in counties Mayo or Galway and observe a curfew until their next court date on July 20. They were also ordered to have no contact with any of the rival gang members or their families and sign on at local garda stations daily.

Also before the court on assault, production of weapons and public order charges were Nathan Ward, Ballygloonan, Corofin, Galway; Derek Ward, Coole Park, Bohermore, Galway; Kevin Ward, St Finbarr's Terrace in Galway and Tommy Sweeney, Castle Park, Ballybane, Galway.

Despite Garda objections they were all also granted bail on strict conditions. They must not set foot in Mayo, have no contact with any of the Barretts or their families, observe a curfew and sign on three times a week at local garda stations until their next appearance in court on September 6.