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

SHOCK has been expressed on Limerick's northside following an incident which has left two men fighting for their lives this Monday.

Gardai have launched an appeal for witnesses following a number of 'serious assaults' in the Thomondgate area of the city in the early hours.

A man in his 20s was discovered with apparent stab wounds at a residence in New Road.

A second male, aged in his 40s, was also discovered with apparent stab wounds at a nearby residence in Cross Road.

Two men critically injured following 'serious assaults' in Limerick

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 this Monday morning.

Crime scene investigators were on the scene, and were witnessed entering a property in New Road.

The incident took place near the area where pensioner Rose Hanrahan was murdered in December 2017.

Local councillor Tom Collopy, Sinn Fein, says incidents of this nature leave "dark clouds" over communities.

"I'm conscious of the fact not 100 yards from this spot, Rose Hanrahan met her untimely demise. Certainly, with regard to a community like this, a settled community with an elderly population, incidents of this nature tend to leave people unsettled."

"Unfortunately, it's an indictment of society, and a microcosm of some of the assaults going on, the anti-social behaviour and the anti-authority aspect which creeps into these situations. It's time to call it out for what it is. It's totally unacceptable in a civilised society and community that incidents of this nature are happening," he added.

Former councillor John Costelloe added: "I'm shocked and dismayed. I cannot believe we have had a serious incident in Thomondgate. We need to get to the bottom of this as soon as we can.

Jody O'Halloran, who lives nearby, said: "It's very sad. I have a grandson and a great-grandson who live around the corner from here. We are not used to this on the northside."

Anyone with any information on the incident, including dash cam footage, is asked to contact Henry Street garda station on (061) 212400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.

Investigations are ongoing.