Leading garda fears children's lives at risk as a result of 'targeted attacks' in Limerick

CHIEF Superintendent Derek Smart has appealed for calm amid escalating tensions between two groups in the southside of the city. 

Chief Supt Smart of Henry St garda station confirmed that since October 12, a number of incidents which saw cars and houses being badly damaged by fire as a result of a presumed feud in the south side of Limerick city, are now being investigated.

Chief Supt Smart said: “These attacks have been confined between two groups of people who are known to each other. They are not random attacks, they are very targeted in what they are trying to achieve.

“They are putting fear into people and putting lives at risk, particularly a number of children present in all of these attacks,”  he told Live95.

“We have a policing plan in place for the south side of the city involving all available resources in the city that will be supported by both national and regional resources, including the emergency response units and our own armed support units.

“We are going to make sure that people involved in these incidents are held to account for their actions.” 

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Chief Supt Smart said a senior investigating officer has been appointed to oversee all the investigations to ensure that the best evidence is obtained to bring the perpetrators to court.

It is understood that searches were conducted on Wednesday night, October 23, which allegedly saw a suspected firearm seized, along with controlled drugs and other items.

In a public appeal, Chief Supt Smart said: “anybody that has any information, no matter how small they think it is, please pick up the phone and let us know what you've seen or heard. You might think it is insignificant but it will help us build the bigger picture here.”