Luxury jeep and ‘significant’ quantity of cash seized by Limerick gardai investigating shooting

GARDAI in County Limerick have seized a large quantity of cash and a luxury jeep as part of follow-up enquiries into a shooting in Rathkeale.

Gardai launched a major investigation after a vehicle was rammed and a man was shot in Rathkeale on Thursday, August 21. The victim of the gun attack was rushed to University Hospital for treatment for non-life threatening injuries. 

READ MORE: Limerick shooting victim remains in hospital over a week after gun attack

Limerick Live understands up to six houses in Rathkeale have been raided by uniformed and plain clothes gardai, Regional Armed Support Unit and Regional Dog Unit.

A garda spokesperson confirmed gardaí executed a search under warrant at a domestic residence in Rathkeale on Monday, September 1.

“A quantity of cash has been seized as a result of the search,” said a garda spokesperson.

While the exact amount of cash hasn’t been disclosed for operational reasons, Limerick Live understands that it is a “significant” five-figure sum.

A total of four vehicles have also been seized during the searches including a high-end luxury Mercedes jeep.

“Investigations are ongoing,” said a garda spokesperson.

One local, who contacted the Leader on Monday after seeing all the garda activity, said they were delighted to see the searches.

“There was an amount of guards there, big fellas with machine guns and they had dogs and all looking for stuff. They weren’t messing around. There’s been a few of these raids,” they said.

Minister of State Niall Collins praised gardai for the “significant seizures”.

“This will send a strong message to the minority in Rathkeale who are engaged in serious criminality. As a Minister of State in the Justice Department I want to acknowledge the actions of the gardai involved.

"It also re-enforces to the vast majority of good, law-abiding people in Rathkeale that actions have consequences and criminality will not be tolerated in their community. Rathkeale is a wonderful town to live and work in,” said Mr Collins.

The minister of state also took issue with reports that there would be no new gardai allocated to County Limerick from the 20 gardai recently assigned to the Limerick Garda Division.

Fourteen of the newly-graduated members are being stationed at Henry Street with six starting their garda careers in Roxboro.

“I have contacted senior gardai about this. New gardai always start their probationary period, involving on-the-job training, in the city. This allows garda management to move more experienced members out to Newcastle West and Bruff.

“When these 20 new gardai, who are most welcome, finish their probationary period some could also be moved out to the county. It’s not as simple as saying the county got no new gardai from the new recruits,” said Mr Collins.