Justice Minister Helen McEntee has condemned recent violent incidents in Galway city.
Minister McEntee said such displays of violence were completely unacceptable and that those involved would be pursued and brought to justice by the gardaí.
She was speaking after several assaults in the city centre over the weekend.
Four people were taken to hospital following a major disturbance at Galway Shopping Centre yesterday evening, when a car was driven at speed into a crowd of people.
It happened at around 6pm in the car park of the shopping centre on Headford Road.
As with other assaults that occurred in Galway over the weekend, footage of the public disorder had been shared widely on social media.
A large group of people were involved, with a significant number of bystanders watching on.
Some of those involved in the disturbance were repeatedly hitting a vehicle with sticks or pipes.
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A short distance away - closer to the shopping centre itself - groups of people could be seen taunting and fighting with each other.
As this was happening, a black Ford Focus was driven into the crowd, striking a number of people, before the vehicle circled back onto the main road.
Two of those hit by the car sustained non life-threatening injuries.
It is understood two others were treated for suspected stab wounds.
At this stage, no arrests have been made.
Gardaí have seized a number of weapons which are understood to have been used during the course of the incident. Two vehicles have also been seized for a technical examination.
It is thought the incident is linked to an ongoing feud between a number of families in the region.
The feud led to another series of assaults in Galway city centre on Friday afternoon, when several men were involved in a brawl on Williamsgate Street just after 3pm.
Mobile phone footage of the incident was again circulated online.
Gardaí arrested five people at the scene.
The men - ranging in age from their late teens to their 40s - were all charged before special sittings of Galway District Court on Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Meeting sought between gardaí and local council
Mayor of Galway Eddie Hoare condemned the violent incidents and said urgent action was needed to address the issue.
There is growing concern among city centre residents and businesses about the extent and frequency of such attacks.
Cllr Hoare called on those involved in a number of violent assaults to step back and exercise calm.
He said he was fearful that if the incidents continued, someone involved, or an innocent bystander, would be killed.
Mr Hoare said he would attend a meeting with senior gardaí and city council officials tomorrow to discuss the incidents.
The Fine Gael councillor said he had been assured that every resource would be put in place to curtail and prevent any repeat of such disturbances.
He also said the Minister for Justice had committed to provide any additional resources needed to counter the violence.
Mr Hoare said the Garda Public Order Unit could be deployed if necessary and that there would be further communication with Helen McEntee after tomorrow's meeting.
