A teen was hospitalised after the men flew at each other wielding carpet knives and a floor mop in the daylight brawl at the Whitewater Shopping Centre as onlookers scrambled to get out of their way
Shoppers looked in terror as two bare-chested men fought using carpet knives and a floor mop at a shopping centre over the weekend. A teen was left hospitalised with a non-life threatening wound to his stomach after the pair clashed at the Irish shopping centre.
The horrific incident was said to be the result of a feud between Irish Traveller families, with fears that the brawl could spark serious repercussions. Shocked and frightened shoppers at the Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge looked on in horror while others tried to get out of the way.
The rampaging gang as they ran through the centre armed with the knives at around 3.30pm, according to local media reports. Reprisal attacks are feared, police say, following the fight, as tensions between the two feuding families could continue to escalate.
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The shocking 45-second video starts with three topless men outside the shopping centre door appearing to goad each other before two of them start to punch each other. The melee then moves inside the shopping centre where two of the topless males continue to fight and knives were then produced, sources told Belfast Live.
The two topless men, followed by another topless male, can be seen continuing to fight each other as shocked shoppers look on. A male in blue shorts is then seen on the escalator with blood streaming from his stomach area while another male produces a floor mop and hits him with it.
The injured male in the blue shorts manages to escape from the gang by walking up the ‘Down’ escalator while a male is heard shouting “We got him,” and “Come back down,” before the video ends. “The gang of lads are not from the Newbridge area but it appears it was a planned attack,” sources said.
“They were practically sword fighting with each other with the Stanley knives in front of shocked shoppers on a Sunday afternoon. They seemed to have complete disregard for anyone else around them.”
“There are now fears of serious repercussions following this incident,” a source told the outlet. It is understood the injured male received stitches to his stomach wound at Naas General Hospital.
So far, no arrests have been made as gardai continue to investigate and continue to appeal for witnesses to come forward. In a statement, gardai said: “Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following an assault on Main Street, Newbridge, Co Kildare on Sunday, September 7.
“Gardaí were alerted to the incident at a commercial premises at approximately 3.30pm. A male juvenile was treated at Naas General Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.”