Gardaí fear crime gang took vet’s pistol

GARDAÍ fear that a vet’s stolen humane killer may have fallen into the hands of a Limerick crime gang.

The weapon a pistol with a single bullet chamber was stolen from a parked car near Thomond Park last Saturday when the vet was at the Munster V Neath Swansea Ospreys game.

Bullets were also taken with the pistol.

Sgt Liam Sheehan said: "For obvious reasons we are very anxious to recover this. It is about six inches in length and was in a black carrier case."

A Limerick priest said yesterday he will speak out at weekend Masses against a gang who vandalised cars belonging to Munster supporters while they were cheering on their team at Thomond Park last Saturday. Six cars, including the one owned by the vet, had windows smashed in while the match was still in progress.

Fr Michel O'Shea of St Munchin's Parish said: "This weekend I will preach and ask parents to be vigilant of their children's activities. Last Saturday before the big game, I saw teenagers hanging around the area and then heard a lot of reports of cars being broken into."

Gardaí said that despite repeated warnings some people still leave property 'on display' in parked cars near Thomond Park on big match days.

Fr O'Shea said he has discussed the problem of car break-ins near Thomond park with Mayorstone gardaí.

Cllr Kevin Kiely, who runs a local pub in the area, said a gang of about 30 teenagers have been causing havoc for the past six months.