Gardaí investigating after report of shots fired at halting site in Limerick

David Raleigh

Gardaí cordoned off an area, Tuesday, around the entrance to a halting site in Limerick, following a report that gunshots were fired into a property occupied by a woman and two children.

The shots were reportedly fired through a window of a property at the site around 2am.

No injuries were reported.

Armed gardaí responded at the scene and a Garda forensic search also took place of inside and around the halting site.

A video of a large garda presence at the site, as well as garda tape cordoning off an area at the site, was shared on social media.

When contacted, a Garda spokeswoman said: “As this is an ongoing operation no details can be provided at this time.”

It’s understood Gardaí were investigating a potential link to another shooting at the same location three weeks ago, on September 3rd last.

On that date a gunman discharged at least one shot in the 4pm gun attack.

Dashcam footage from a passing motorist, which was later shared on social media, showed a man dodging traffic on foot along Childers Road as he was pursued by a number of other males who appeared to be carrying weapons.

A recent surge of violent incidents in Limerick have threatened to drag the city back to levels of feuding that left around men murdered between the early to mid-2000s.

Gardaí remain actively braced for the next attack, although Garda management continue to remain tight-lipped about their operations in which they are targeting those behind the violence.

Garda overtime for armed patrols was recently approved to allow armed garda units to monitor flashpoint areas, due to a rise in drive-by shootings, firebombings, pipebomb attacks, and attacks on homes and vehicles.

The parties involved in the tit-for-tat violence were video recording the attacks on mobile phone and sharing the offending on social media.

One recent video earlier this month showed an unidentified man preparing and firing what appeared to be a semi-automatic firearm in a field.

Garda sources said the type of firearms used by those involved in the violence are extremely dangerous.

An explosive ordnance disposal unit attached to the Defence Forces has made several recent trips to different parts of Limerick this year, from its base in Cork, to deal with several pipe bombs.