Two houses alleged to have been acquired from the proceeds of crime by one of the suspected leaders of a Limerick crime gang and one of his associates have been made the subject of High Court freezing orders.

The jailing of almost 60 key figures in Limerick’s notorious gangs, coupled with in-fighting among active gang members, has led to a significant decrease in crime in the city, according to a senior garda.

Many leaders of a prolific crime scene have been jailed, writes Jimmy Woulfe