Fresh calls for increased garda resources are being made this week after an early evening brawl involving up to eight men erupted in Longford town at the weekend.

Fresh calls for increased garda resources are being made this week after an early evening brawl involving up to eight men erupted in Longford town at the weekend.

The disturbance took place inside a busy retail outlet shortly after 7pm on Saturday evening.

Five men wearing balaclavas reportedly attacked three other men inside the popular Main Street premises as horrified staff looked on.

As the row threatened to spill over, the five-man gang raced from the shop before speeding off in a red-coloured Mitsubishi Carisma in the direction of Edgeworthstown.

A passing patrol car soon came across the getaway car along a stretch of the main N4 which links Edgeworthstown to Longford.

During the course of their escape, the Leader understands the gang tried to set fire to the car and its contents while switching to a second car that was on standby.

No arrests have yet been made in relation to the incident, which is believed to be linked to an ongoing Traveller related feud.

For more on this story, see this week’s Longford Leader.