Fifth arrest in eviction melée investigation

GARDAÍ investigating a violent attack at a repossessed home in Co. Roscommon have arrested a man in his 50s who, it is understood, lost his own home in the financial crash.

The Co. Longford man, 52, is the fifth person to be quizzed in connection with the probe. Two men have been charged over the attack.

On December 16 last, up to 40 people, some armed with baseball bats and a chainsaw, attacked eight security guards who were guarding the property at Falsk, near Strokestown in Roscommon. The attacks occurred a few days after Anthony McGann and siblings were removed from the property in a court-ordered eviction after the property’s repossession by KBC bank. The eviction angered many in the community.

According to sources, the man arrested yesterday became involved with anti-eviction groups when he was dealing with his own home being repossessed.