It was 6.55am, June 7, 1996, when Detective Garda Jerry McCabe and Detective Garda Ben O’Sullivan were targeted by an IRA gang as both officers provided an armed escort for a mail delivery van.

A boat club said yesterday it had not given permission for the use of a 16ft launch in which a man died and three others were rescued during an early morning incident on the Shannon in Co Limerick.

Gardaí in Limerick remain on a heightened state of alert amid fears a gang feud in the city could reignite following the attempted murder of Christy Keane.

Two men are being questioned by gardaí after a groom’s brother was gunned down outside the wedding party in Co Clare yesterday.