FEARS have been expressed that a “situation” may be developing in Letterkenny between differing factions following a serious assault in the Long Lane area which left a man in intensive care last weekend.
Up to five men were involved in the assault which took place in Glenard Park last Friday night and two men appeared before Letterkenny District Court on Monday charged with assault causing harm to Dermot Kildea.
Gerard Ward of 9 Fernhill was jailed for nine months after outstanding bench warrants were executed for separate offences and Thomas McDonagh of 42 Hazlebrook Crescent was released on bail to reside with his sister outside the county.
Superintendent Vincent O’Brien told Judge Paul Kelly that while gardai agreed to the men being released on bail, they must reside outside Letterkenny.
quell
He said the reason for this was to “quell a situation which is developing in Letterkenny”.
Speaking later this week, Superintendent O’Brien said he was concerned that a feud may be emerging between the factions and that reprisals over Friday’s attack could spark further incidents.
He appealed for calm among the parties involved and urged them to allow gardai to investigate the matter.
The Superintendent also confirmed that an incident room has been set up at Letterkenny Garda Station as part of the investigation and gardai are still seeking a number of young men they believe to have been involved in the assault.
Gardai in the Letterkenny area have also stepped-up patrols in the Long Lane area and the Regional Support Unit were deployed last weekend where searches uncovered a number of weapons including chair legs and a hockey stick.
The weapon involved in the attack has still not been found and it is unclear whether a slashhook or baseball bat modified with nails was used.
The victim of the brutal assault, who required 22 staples to his head, discharged himself from hospital earlier this w
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