Mullingar’s reputation was dealt a further blow this week, because of the current explosive feud involving rival gangs of settled travelling families. This threatened to cause death or injury on Monday night, 12 January, when a viable pipe bomb-type explosive device was left under a car in the Ardilaun area of the town, with Gardai evacuating terrified residents.
Monday night of this week 12, January, proved to be an upsetting and frightening one for a number of families living in the Ardilaun area of Mullingar, when a bomb was reported to have been placed close to their homes, in the Ardilaun area.
At approximately 11pm on Monday night, Gardaí in Mullingar were alerted to a possible bomb threat in the Ardilaun area. One house was close to the device.
Gardaí arrived quickly on the scene, located the suspect device and cordoned off the area, and local people returning could not gain entry. Homes close to the threat were evacuated, and scared young children had to leave their homes. It is believed the explosive device had been placed under a car outside a house in the Ardilaun scheme.
People living in three of the houses close to the car where the suspect device was located were immediately evacuated from their homes, and it proved to be a very frightening situation for the innocent people involved. They had to stay out of their homes late at night, and Topic learned that there were a number of young children in the houses threatened.
Local families are still seriously upset by the situation, and there are fears that Dublin criminal connections may be involved again, as seemed to be the case in another incident recently, when shots were fired.
The Garda – Army Bomb Disposal team were called to the scene and they carefully removed the device from the street and area for closer examination and de-activation, if it was a viable bomb.
The residents who were evacuated were allowed back into their homes at 3am on Tuesday morning, 13 January.
On Tuesday afternoon of this week, Gardaí confirmed that the device found was indeed viable (i.e. capable of causing damage or death) and an IED (Improvised Explosive Device).
Topic has also learned that various homes owned by traveller families around Mullingar have been recently equipped with protective “caging” – and this is causing fears that a major conflict may be in the offing.
Gardaí confirmed that they are continuing to carry out investigations into Monday’s incident. They are also appealing for anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area to come forward and help them with their investigations.
It was pointed out to Topic that if the device has exploded, it could have caused serious injury or worse. “It appears to have been a very reckless and provocative act,” we were told.
DRUGS BEHIND
FEUDING?
The reputation of the town has been suffering seriously once again of late, after recovering somewhat following the infamous D’Alton Park riots of several years ago, involving travelling families.
Feuding erupted again in the town in recent months, and there were several incidents.
Topic has been told by reliable sources, that while ostensibly, the trouble between the traveller groups is due to incidents and tit-for-tat differences of various kinds, the basic reasons are now feuds over “drug territories”. One source told us: “Drugs are now running Mullingar.”
Topic has also been told that there are up to half a dozen main drug dealers operating in the town and those involved are a combination of travelling families or groups of east European origin.
There have been several serious incidents in Mullingar since the autumn, involving rival traveller families and connections, and the Gardai have been called on at different times to restore order.
Only a matter of weeks ago, Gardai were forced to carry out constant surveillance in the Grange area, after opposing hostile groups assembled on a green area, apparently intent on battle.
The growing concerns in Mullingar have been mirrored by current trouble in south Westmeath of a similar kind, in the Moate area, involving other traveller groups, with threats to homes and individuals. Several arrests took place last week-end. (See separate story).
