A festival in honour of Our Lady of Fátima, in Barrosa, Benavente (Santarém, just north of Lisbon), ended in blood and tears on Sunday night after a former member of one of the two groups performing at the event and who had been recently expelled, went to the venue to seek revenge.
According to newspaper Correio da Manhã, a fight broke out after the Benavente Senior University Folk Group and the Várzea Fresca Group had finished their performances, at around 10pm.
Tensions flared when a 59-year-old man who had recently been booted out of the Várzea Fresca group turned up at the event to “provoke” his former colleagues.
He reportedly directed his anger at a ten-year-old boy, and a fight broke out when older members of the group came to the child’s defence.
Members from both folk groups eventually became embroiled in the brawl, which only ended when GNR officers and fire-fighters intervened.
Seven people were injured and the ten-year-old boy had to be taken to Vila Franca de Xira hospital to be treated for cuts and bruises.
Four individuals were formally identified by GNR police – the assailant, the child and two witnesses – but no one was arrested as no charges were pressed at the time.
According to Correio da Manhã, the boy’s parents intend to take further action.