A councillor and long-time cemetery committee member where a violent brawl broke out at an annual blessing of the graves ceremony has placed doubts on its future.
The brawl occurred at St Peter and Paul's Cemetery in Portlaoise, Co Laois at 1pm last Sunday.
It is understood a number of weapons, including a large variety of knives, were brandished, resulting in two people, a male in his 20s and a juvenile male, being hospitalised for non-life-threatening injuries.
Four people, two men and two juveniles, have since been charged under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act and affray.
Scores of gardaí, along with the public order unit were in attendance at the mass. Last year, a small scuffle occurred at the annual event.
Independent Republican councillor Caroline Dwane Stanley, who is one of 15 cemetery committee members, was present at the mass last Sunday at which 3,000 were in attendance.
She said the incident “shocked and really frightened so many people when it was taking place and in its aftermath”.
Dwane Stanley explained that the cemetery committee works so hard for months in advance before the mass to ensure that the annual event occurs without any problems and that members of the community are “well looked after”.
“In the coming days there will be a meeting of the cemetery committee, gardaí, the Laois Traveller Action Group and Monsignor John Byrne, who was celebrating the mass last Sunday, to decide on the future of the annual mass. The reason being that we cannot allow any chance for serious injury or even threats to life to occur again.
“To see, witness and try to deal with what occurred at the cemetery last Sunday was so appalling and not something I thought I would ever witness," Dwane Stanley said.
"To see elderly women and men and children running for their lives and visibly crying out of fear was something I never want to see again.
“There were 3,000 people at the cemetery last Sunday and we had it so well organised but then it all descended into chaos - a very dangerous chaos,” continued Dwane Stanley.
She outlined that the committee had ensured that a stone altar had been created in the cemetery for the annual event as the blessing of the graves is so “important” to the community.
“To hear Msgr Byrne pleading to those involved in the violence to stop was really sickening and shocking. But being honest what happened in Portlaoise is not an isolated incident, as other violence has broken out in similar events in Tullamore, Mulling and other places,” she added.
Dwane Stanley said that if gardaí had the powers to prevent troublemakers attending such incidents, “that would be a big help”.
The meeting in Portlaoise is planned to take place in the coming days.
Pavee Point, which works to promote human rights, social justice and equality for Irish Travellers and the Roma community, said the actions of some of their community at the event were “unacceptable” which is leading to “stereotyping” of the worst kind.
Martin Collins, co-director of Pavee Point said: “(For such an incident) particularly in a graveyard, a place of worship and respect is absolutely appalling. Any Traveller organisation worth their salt should come out and say what happened is seriously unacceptable.”
Gardaí continue to appeal for any witnesses to the incident to contact them.
Anyone who was in the area of St Peter and Paul’s Cemetery, Portlaoise between midday and 1.30pm last Sunday and “who may have any information about the incident” is asked to contact investigating Gardaí.
In particular, anyone who was present at the time, with camera footage, including mobile phone and dash-cam footage, is asked to make it available.
Gardaí can be contacted at Portlaoise Garda Station on (057) 867 4100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
