Still of elderly siblings supporters being forcibly restrained during KBC's eviction on Tuesday as the police look on. YouTube
A group of up to 50 masked men with baseball bats broke into a repossessed Roscommon family home in the early hours of Sunday morning.
One man remains in hospital after the security guards, assigned to guarding the house and farm following the eviction of its three elderly residents, were attacked by the locals.
Police plan to interview up to eight security guards, some thought to be British, who were attacked at the repossessed residence at the house and farm in Falsk, just outside the town of Strokestown. A dog was killed during the raid and at least five vehicles were burnt out.
Online many commentators urged repeat performances at other repossessed properties. This attack was spurred on by the eviction of three siblings, two brothers and one sister, all in their 60s, who were forcibly evicted on Tuesday. Footage of the eviction was posted online. The property had been in their family for generations.
The video above shows supporter of the family being forcibly wrestled into submission as police watch from a short distance away. The police stated that they could not get involved as the incident took place on private property.
The attack on the security guards, on Sunday morning, was condemned by local politicians, Fianna Fáil's Eugene Murphy, and Independent Michael Fitzmaurice. They have also been called for KBC Bank Ireland to allow the residents to return to their repossessed home.
KBC confirmed that it was aware of the incident and said it was a matter for the police. They declined to comment.
Police believe the incident took place just before 4 am on Sunday morning. The gang was highly organized. The raid involved up to 50 men many of them wearing high-vis vests and carrying bats. A number of people are said to have serious injuries to their head, arms, and legs, RTE reports. The Irish Examiner reports that there were up to 70 men involved in the raid.
Police will also examine video footage, taken from body-cams work by security guards on Tuesday.
Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan released a statement and said he has requested his officials to examine the regulations and licensing of personnel enforcing court orders by the Private Security Authority. He also said he has convened an interdepartmental group to examine the administrative, legislative, resources, security and any other matters required to provide for the regulation and licensing of personnel enforcing court orders by the Private Security Authority. The group is to report to the minister in January 2019.
Speaking in Irish parliament independent politician Michael Fitzmaurice, who represents Roscommon, criticized this forcible eviction. He said “In my opinion, many of the banks involved are scum.
“[Last Tuesday] in Co Roscommon, a group of 20 or 30 men with dogs came from the North, aided and abetted by An Garda Síochána, who blocked off two roads. The group of men pegged three people, two of whom were elderly, out of a house and left them on the side of the road.
“They were aided and abetted by An Garda Síochána [Ireland’s police], which is disgraceful.”