Law Society condemns ‘violent vigilantes’ following attack on security guards in Roscommon

Ken Murphy

Up to 50 men allegedly arrived at a recently repossessed house in Falsk on Sunday morning and attacked private security guards with baseball bats.

Eight security guards were injured and three were hospitalised. Four vehicles were also burned out and a guard dog involved in the incident was later put down.

The attack came days after three siblings in their 50s and 60s were forcibly evicted from the property by a Northern Ireland security firm hired by KBC Bank. Mobile phone footage of the eviction went viral on social media amid a backlash over the level of force used.

The family has since moved back into the property but has not had any further discussions with the bank, the Irish Mirror reports.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said, following the incident, that “vigilantism cannot and will not be tolerated in this State”.

However, he also said he would direct his officials to examine the regulation of private security operators employed by third parties to enforce court orders, with a view to bringing them within the remit of the Private Security Authority.

Ken Murphy, director-general of the Law Society, said: “I would echo the comments made by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan in condemning the violent actions of vigilantes, which have led to injuries, animal deaths and very serious property damage.

“While this is no doubt a hugely difficult and emotionally-charged situation, no one should take the law into their own hands. The rule of law exists to protect everyone, and any departure from it threatens everyone.”