‘Someone is going to die’: Three ongoing feuds in Limerick city and county

GARDAI in the city and county are stretched to the limit trying to keep a lid on three separate feuds - two of which have seen a man shot in a gun attack, two  hurt in three arson attacks and a truck reversed into a house in the last few days.

“We’re trying to keep a lid on it. It’s only been the luck of God there hasn’t been somebody killed,” said a garda.

The feud over the supply of drugs on the southside of the city has been simmering for months but has exploded in recent days. 

The Leader has learned that children and relations of notorious gang members from Limerick’s past are now of age to be involved in serious criminality.

 A man  was hospitalised over a shooting in Ballinacurra Weston on Sunday night. In the early hours of Sunday morning a woman, aged in her 40s, was injured after an arson attack on a house in Southill.

Late on Monday night, in the same city suburb, a male, aged in his 50s, was conveyed to UHL for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life threatening after a house was fire bombed. 

“They are improvised explosive devices they have learned how to make from the internet. They are lethal. They have changed tack.  

“One was thrown into a house with an elderly couple and a child. Thankfully it didn’t explode but if it had…” said the garda.

The Leader has learned the suspects escaped from gardaí following the incident on Monday night by driving the wrong way down the M7 motorway. 

READ MORE: Gardaí investigating house fire in Limerick city estate

Gardai in Limerick are also understood to be down vehicles due to fears over a potential defect in car engines. 

It is  linked to a fatal crash involving a police vehicle in the UK. 

The decision was made nationally to remove the vehicles from the fleet.

One local living in the southside of the city with knowledge of the feuding told the Leader that  people are “terrified”.

“Somebody is going to die,” they said this Tuesday.

A feud between Traveller families in Rathkeale is also said to be “exploding” with a truck driven into a house on the town’s main street on Monday and a petrol bomb attack on a house earlier this month.

Gardai are also monitoring the feud between families in Patrickswell and Charleville which left a child hospitalised earlier this year.