2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (David Raleigh)
Gardai yesterday seized hundreds of thousands of euro worth of suspected crime assets in a massive planned Garda search operation targeting individuals involved in an escalating violent feud in Limerick city . The massive operation involved more than 100 Gardai, and resulted in the seizure of hundreds of thousands of euro worth of cash, drugs , vehicles and jewellery. The feud, involving rival groups on the south side of the city, has escalated in recent days and weeks, fuelling tit-for tat firebombings, pipe-bomb attacks, shootings and criminal damage at graves.
A number of people have also received Garda Information Messages (GIMs) informing them of credible threats to their lives in recent weeks. From 7am yesterday, Gardai swooped on 10-plus locations across Limerick and the Clare border, targeting the activities of an organised crime group (OCG). Gardai attached to Roxboro Road, Henry Street and Mayorstone Park stations were supported by the Armed Support Unit (ASU), the Emergency Response Unit (ERU), national and regional Dog Units, in a co-ordinated operation against the activities of the feuding criminals and their associates.
The garda seizure included tens of thousands of euro in cash, up to €10,000 worth of cannabis , several cars, designer watches, jewellery, dirt bikes and quad bikes, electronic devices and other items of evidential value. Sources described the operation as a massive success, and that it was a message from the State that gardai will pursue criminals involved in serious violence and criminality until they are brought to justice. Several people have also been placed on the radar of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) , which seizes criminals assets and sells the assets on the open market, and provides the money to the exchequer.
Five hours before these Garda raids, residents in the Prospect area of the city were evacuated from their homes as an army bomb disposal unit made safe an improvised explosive device (IED) linked to the violent feud. It was the second IED recovered by the authorities in the city in three days as tensions escalated between the rival groups, and the second time gardai requested the assistance of the Defence Forces bomb squad, which travelled from its base in Cork . A garda spokesman said: "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. "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." Last Sunday morning, the army bomb disposal team travelled to Limerick city to make safe an IED found near a car that was firebombed in Ballinacurra Weston. When gardai arrived at the scene the occupants of a house told them that their property had been damaged by gunfire.
No one was injured in the reported gun attack. The feuding is centred in flashpoint areas of Ballincaurra Weston and Southill, but has recently also spread to residential parts of Corbally. 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. Speaking recently, Sinn Fein TD, Maurice Quinlivan said: "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.
" Deputy Quinlivan also warned that while Garda resources had been focused on tackling the feud, drug dealing and drug use was flourishing in the St Mary’s Park, King’s Island area of the city. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here..
