Vandalism attempt on security camera near site of Limerick assaults

A VANDALISM attempt has been made on a security camera in a community where an incident has left two men fighting for their lives.

Just hours after two men were hospitalised, the structure accommodating the closed circuit television (CCTV) system at Quarry Road, which was partially closed for a technical examination in the wake of the assaults in Monday’s early hours, was vandalised.

It's not clear at this time what the impact is on the actual security cameras.

One local, speaking on condition of anonymity, said she witnessed attempts made to open the lamp-post where the wires for the cameras would be housed.

Shock in Limerick community following serious incident which has left two men critical

The woman, who lives within striking distance of the security camera, added: "They brought wheelie bins down with them, and stood on them to try and get up to the camera."

Paint cans were seen strewn around the site.

The move has been described as “absolutely disgusting” by former Sinn Fein councillor John Costelloe.

The current Sinn Fein councillor for the area Tom Collopy added he’s “at a loss as to the motive of this wanton vandalism.”

The gardai have been made aware of this, and have commenced an investigation.

“While anti-social behaviour is a common phenomenon in all communities, it does not make it any more acceptable,” Cllr Collopy added.

The initial assaults in Thomondgate have sparked a major garda probe.

They left a man in his 20s with apparent stab wounds at a residence in New Road, while a second male in his 40s was also found with similar wounds at a nearby residence in Cross Road. Both were critically injured.

A large area of footpath at New Road, and almost the whole stretch of Quarry Road - both the footpath and the carriageway - was cordoned off by the gardai in the wake of the incident.

Crime scene investigators were on the scene of the incident which took place near the area pensioner Rose Hanrahan was murdered in December 2017.

Cllr Collopy says incidents of this nature leave “dark clouds” over communities.

“Like the residents, I am shocked and perturbed by this incident in a neighbourhood which is recognised as one of the most cohesive and neighbourly in the city,” he said.

Anyone with any information on either incident, including dash cam footage, is asked to contact Henry Street garda station on 061-212400 or any garda station.