Limerick feud escalates: House demolished after bomb blast, gardaí monitor school runs

David Raleigh

A house in Limerick had to be demolished after it sustained major structural damage in a pipe-bomb attack, and gardaí are monitoring morning and afternoon school runs as feuding between rival families in Limerick escalates, a court has been told.

The feud has reached a boiling point with gardaí fearful someone will be killed.

“Explosive devices have been used to target homes and individuals, and one such device used during this feud has resulted in a home being demolished due to structural damage,” a Garda Detective told Limerick District Court.

“The extent of this feud has necessitated the detailing of uniformed members of An Garda Síochána outside local schools to prevent further escalations and tensions among feuding parties,” the detective said.

“Permanent armed patrols” have also been established in certain parts of the city, as gardaí continue to try to curb the violence.

Gardaí warned that persons involved in the feud “pose a serious and active threat” to innocent members of the public that are not connected to the feuding, as the violence can erupt almost anywhere at any time.

A recent wave of pipe-bomb attacks, firebombings and drive-by shootings have put gardaí on a major alert as well as being fearful that someone will be killed in the violence.

“Gardaí are currently investigating a huge amount of incidents that are attributable to this feud, including incidents of violent disorder, criminal damage, shooting incidents, and incidents where explosive devices have been used to target homes and individuals,” the detective garda added.

Other garda sources said many of those involved in the feud are addicted to cocaine which is fueling paranoia and adding to tensions.

Dozens of separate garda investigations into the violence are ongoing however, despite the increase in attacks, gardaí have so far managed to prevent deaths.

Lately, gardaí visited a number of persons and informed them their lives were in danger after detectives became aware of active threats against individuals.

Gardaí have also intercepted the transport of guns and drugs through the city and therefore have instantaneously removed risk to life and limb.

However, sources said the feud is reaching a boiling point and gardaí continue to be on high alert.

A number of individuals suspected of being involved in the feuding have been taken off the streets and remanded in custody.

Gardaí are actively monitoring three feuds across the city and county, which can routinely escalate and de-escalate at regular stages.

However, the garda’s main concern relates to a feud between a criminal family and an organised crime group based on the south side of the city.

Some of the individuals linked to the current feud were closely associated with criminal figures involved in a gang feud that left 20 men dead between the late 90s and mid-2000s.

One of the earliest attacks in that feud saw two armed and masked men burst into the Moose Bar at Cathedral Place and fire off 15 gunshots killing local enforcer, Eddie Ryan senior.

A tit for tat war, fuelled by hatred and the need to control the local drugs trade, followed, involving the McCarthy Dundon crime network, the Keane gang, the Collopy mob, and the Ryan clan.