sligochampion.ie
JIM GRAY
ONE OF the victims of the vicious baseball attack on a group of Sligo bikers last Saturday has told The Sligo Champion: "We're lucky some of us weren't murdered on the spot."
The eye-witness, who suffered serious rib injuries in the attack at a filling station in Dromore West, described how he and seven colleagues from the Sligo Bike Club were savagely beaten with baseball bats by a gang of about 25 balaclava-clad assailants, who jumped from a convoy of vehicles, having tracked the bikers for a distance of about 20 miles from Sligo town.
The bikers, all members of the Sligo Bike Club, were on their way to a rally in Easkey and had stopped at the garage when they were set upon at about 9 p.m. Three people received cuts and bruises while a fourth man was admitted to Sligo General Hospital, where he received 30 staples to a head wound.
"We were ambushed in an attack that was meticulously planned with militarystyle precision," the victim, who wished to remain anonymous, said. "The attackers arrived in a fleet of vehicles, vans and jeeps, and jumped out on us as we were sitting outside the garage. They were armed mostly with baseball bats, though some had hammers." "Some of our lads took a savage beating. It's lucky some of us weren't murdered on the spot. Our bikes, which included some expensive Harleys, were also badly damaged. The damage could amount to thousands of euro." The attackers arrived at the scene in five vehicles --a car and four jeeps --having travelled in convoy from the Sligo direction. The bikers, who were relaxing in the forecourt, immediately fled in all directions. The attackers sped off in the direction of Ballina, and may then have taken a detour towards Tubbercurry. Gardai, who were alerted by a 999 call, were quickly on the scene Their investigation is now focusing on extensive CCTV footage which recorded the entire incident.
One of the victims told The Sligo Champion that he has strong suspicions as to who organised and carried out the attack. One theory is that the assault was the culmination of a fued between rival bike clubs over perceived rights to wear certain badges and insignia on bike club clothing.
Anyone who may be able to assist in the investigation is asked to contact either Ballymote Gardai (0719183333) or Enniscrone Gardai (096-36103)
The eye-witness, who suffered serious rib injuries in the attack at a filling station in Dromore West, described how he and seven colleagues from the Sligo Bike Club were savagely beaten with baseball bats by a gang of about 25 balaclava-clad assailants, who jumped from a convoy of vehicles, having tracked the bikers for a distance of about 20 miles from Sligo town.
The bikers, all members of the Sligo Bike Club, were on their way to a rally in Easkey and had stopped at the garage when they were set upon at about 9 p.m. Three people received cuts and bruises while a fourth man was admitted to Sligo General Hospital, where he received 30 staples to a head wound.
"We were ambushed in an attack that was meticulously planned with militarystyle precision," the victim, who wished to remain anonymous, said. "The attackers arrived in a fleet of vehicles, vans and jeeps, and jumped out on us as we were sitting outside the garage. They were armed mostly with baseball bats, though some had hammers." "Some of our lads took a savage beating. It's lucky some of us weren't murdered on the spot. Our bikes, which included some expensive Harleys, were also badly damaged. The damage could amount to thousands of euro." The attackers arrived at the scene in five vehicles --a car and four jeeps --having travelled in convoy from the Sligo direction. The bikers, who were relaxing in the forecourt, immediately fled in all directions. The attackers sped off in the direction of Ballina, and may then have taken a detour towards Tubbercurry. Gardai, who were alerted by a 999 call, were quickly on the scene Their investigation is now focusing on extensive CCTV footage which recorded the entire incident.
One of the victims told The Sligo Champion that he has strong suspicions as to who organised and carried out the attack. One theory is that the assault was the culmination of a fued between rival bike clubs over perceived rights to wear certain badges and insignia on bike club clothing.
Anyone who may be able to assist in the investigation is asked to contact either Ballymote Gardai (0719183333) or Enniscrone Gardai (096-36103)
- JIM GRAY