PARISHIONERS at the Church of the Irish Martyrs in Letterkenny were left terrified after a shocking disturbance unfolded yesterday.
The incident occurred outside the church and in the porch area, leading to the arrest of several men aged between their 30s and 60s.
The chaos erupted after the service, prompting immediate action from Gardai.
According to reports, five men are scheduled to appear before Letterkenny District Court this afternoon, while one individual has been released without charge, pending further investigation by the DPP.
A number of weapons were seized at the scene.
Local parishioner Evelyn shared her experience on the Nine til Noon Show on Highland Radio, describing the fear that gripped the congregation.
“I wouldn’t say all hell broke loose, but outside there was a lot of commotion. And everybody was petrified because we didn’t know if it was going to spread into the church or not. But it was contained in the porch and outside,” she recalled.
She also noted the swift response from law enforcement, adding: “the guards came very, very quickly. The mass was held up for at least 10 minutes.”
Despite the rapid resolution, Evelyn expressed lingering fear, adding: “you do get afraid,” and “it was a shame to happen in the holy area.”
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