Limerick gardai granted court order to destroy luxury jeeps 'tied to gangs'

LIMERICK gardai have hit families linked to “feuding activity” in Rathkeale in the pocket by securing a court order to destroy 10 luxury vehicles.

The order follows the violence seen on the streets of Rathkeale before Christmas where jeeps were rammed into each other like “dodgems” and vehicles attacked by men wielding slash hooks and spades.

Six of the jeeps were connected to the shocking incident that caused Minister for Justice Simon Harris to visit the west Limerick town while the other four were subequently seized by gardai.

Minister for Justice visits Rathkeale following 'utterly abhorrent' violence in town

Among the vehicles is Land Rover Discovery, Cherokee and Volvo cars and a Mitsubishi Shogun. Their value prior to the collisions ran into the hundreds of thousands of euros.

Detective Sergeant Michael Reidy made an application, under the Police (Property) Act, 1897, before Judge Carol Anne Coolican at Newcastle West Court on Friday seeking permission for the destruction of 10 vehicles “all linked to feuding activity”.

The senior garda said six of the vehicles were “crashed and abandoned” in Rathkeale on Monday, December 19.

Det Sgt Reidy said a number of them were bought at auction in Northern Ireland and following contact with colleagues in the PSNI “no current owner” was established. Det Sgt Reidy said on November 11, 2022, gardai seized a Mitsubishi Shogun that “had black spray painted windows and I believed it was to be used in criminal activity”.

Last December, gardai also impounded a gold Cherokee jeep, a Land Rover Discovery “fictitiously” registered at an address in Donaghmede in Dublin, and a black Volvo jeep all in Rathkeale.

In the three instances, Det Sgt Reidy said they are linked to “feuding activity” and that “nobody has come forward”.

Thief who broke into community centre in Limerick village leaves 'empty-handed'

Judge Coolican granted the destruction orders in all 10 cases. The Leader understands that the damaged vehicles may be broken down for parts. It also means the State will stop paying for their storage.

The garda investigation into the violent incidents in Rathkeale, which shocked the country before Christmas continues.

It is thought it was sparked by an assault on an elderly man.