News

Footage emerges of Armagh and Tyrone fans in violent brawl on Dublin to Belfast train

In the footage, a number of rival fans can be seen piling into a fist-fight in the narrow aisle of the train. Picture courtesy of Armagh I
In the footage, a number of rival fans can be seen piling into a fist-fight in the narrow aisle of the train. Picture courtesy of Armagh I In the footage, a number of rival fans can be seen piling into a fist-fight in the narrow aisle of the train. Picture courtesy of Armagh I

FOOTAGE has emerged of the brawl between Armagh and Tyrone fans during a train journey home following the All Ireland quarter final at Croke Park.

Horrified onlookers fled the 8.50pm train after it stopped at Drogheda following the melee which began around half an hour after the train left Connolly station in Dublin.

In the footage, a number of rival fans can be seen piling into a fist-fight in the narrow aisle of the train, as other passengers - among them soccer fans who had attended Liverpool vs Athletico Bilbao pre-season friendly in the Aviva stadium - looked on in consternation.

An eye-witness told the Irish News that a pensioner had been so frightened she had pushed the emergency stop button and some people had climbed off the Enterprise service to get away from the fighting.

The disturbance reached such a pitch that Irish Rail staff contacted officers at Drogheda Garda Station at around 10.20pm to warn them of the "disturbance" on board the Belfast-bound train.

The trouble saw the train stop for around 90 minutes in total, according to some on board.

A press officers said: "Gardaí arrived on the scene and boarded the train. They spoke to a number of passengers and calmed the situation down.

"No complaints were made and no arrests took place. The train departed a short time later without further incident."

However, passengers said elderly people and children - one just five years old - were left terrified by the violence, which left those involved with cuts and bruises.

There was also complaints that the trains were overpacked, with travellers forced to stand outside toilets and claims that people had carried "bottles of vodka and crates of beer on the train".

Translink said it is investigating the trouble, and insisted that its policy is that "only alcohol purchased on board the Enterprise train can be consumed on the train".

“Our investigation is on-going. It involves a number of steps, including interviewing staff who were on board and reviewing CCTV footage from the train," Translink said in a statement.

There was no comment from either Tyrone or Armagh county boards yesterday.