GARDAÍ ARE INVESTIGATING a large scale fight that broke out at a halting site in Cork yesterday that saw dozens of people in pitched battles and reports of two men injured in a shooting. 

The incident at a site on the Ballyvolane Road, near Blackpool in the city was captured on a number of videos which have been circulated widely.

The videos, which we have verified with sources, show dozens of people fighting among mobile homes, throwing missiles at each other.

In the footage a number of people are seen bleeding, there are close up videos of people fighting with implements, with one group defending a gate to the site. 

The first garda unit to arrive to the scene was forced to wait for assistance from other units such was the ferocity of the violence. They can be seen in one of the videos waiting at the entrance.

Sources have said gardaí carried out searches of the site yesterday evening. It is understood that discussions took place which led to an agreement to stop fighting. 

A garda statement said that officers initially responded to a report of gunshots being fired at the site. 

“Two males are receiving hospital treatment for injuries believed to be non-life threatening.

“Separately, Gardaí responded to reports of a public order incident involving a group of individuals near Ballyvolane Road, Cork city, on Saturday at approximately 3:30pm. Upon their arrival, those involved dispersed from the scene.

“Investigations into both incidents are ongoing,” the statement said. 

The violence is remarkably similar to similar feuding in Limerick city in the last week around Childers Road and Clonlong. 

Videos have circulated of dozens of masked men making so-called call out videos and firing handguns and sawn off shotguns into the air. It is not believed that the Limerick violence is linked the Ballyvolane incident. 

The location in Cork where the violence broke out is at a halting site which has been previously declared in a report by the Ombudsman for Children as having the worst living conditions in Ireland. It is believed to house upwards of 140 people.