Residents evacuated from homes in Limerick as second explosive device linked to feud made safe

David Raleigh

Residents in the Prospect area of Limerick city were evacuated from their homes this morning as an army bomb disposal unit made safe a second improvised explosive device in the city, in three days, as a violent feud escalated between rival groups.

Gardaí requested the assistance of the Defence Forces bomb squad after the firebomb device was discovered at a house around 2.25am this morning.

“Gardaí in Limerick were alerted to a device at a residential property in Prospect at approximately 2:25am, Tuesday. A cordon was established and neighbouring properties were evacuated,” a Garda spokesman said.

“An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team removed an improvised device containing an accelerant for further examination.

"Residents were subsequently allowed to return to their homes,” they added.

The army bob disposal team, which is based in Cork, travelled to Limerick city on last Sunday morning to make safe an improvised explosive device (IED) that was found near a car that was firebombed in Ballinacurra Weston.

When gardaí arrived at the scene thee occupants of a house told them that their property had been damaged by gunfire. No one was injured in the reported gun attack.

Gardaí believe the incidents are linked to individuals involved in an ongoing violent feud between rival crime families on the southside of the Treaty City.

A number of pipe bomb attacks and arson attacks on cars and homes, as well as shootings and stabbings, have occurred in the Ballinacurra Weston, Southill, Corbally, as part of the feud, in recent weeks.

Recently, gardaí hand delivered Garda Information Messages (GIMs) to two males in the city, informing them of a credible threat to their lives.

A number of people have been injured as part of the violence, and others are before the courts charged with violent offences.

Gardaí have appealed to those involved in the feuding to step back from the violence and warned that anyone involved in committing violent acts will be arrested and charged before the courts.

Gardaí also said that children have been caught up in the violence and expressed concern that children will be injured or worse if the feud continues.

Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan said last March: “As we all know, there is a feud going on on the south-side of the city and we do need to address that, that is very important, because I have a concern people will be killed in that.”

He warned that Garda resources had been spread to the south side of the city to try to tackle the feuding, but that drug dealing and drug use was flourishing in the St Mary’s Park, King’s Island area of the city.