Kelly recounts attempt on his life by masked gunman

CONTROVERSIAL Limerick figure Anthony Kelly last night told how he survived an attempt on his life yesterday when his car was sprayed with gunfire.

Mr Kelly described his brush with death, which happened as he drove near his Southill home after taking his children to school.

Mr Kelly said: "He (the gunman) was wearing a balaclava. There was a second fellow. He was only a short distance away and as I was passing he fired an automatic handgun.

"He fired directly at me and the windscreen and side windows smashed. I put the boot down in a split-second reaction and drove on."

Gardaí believe it was a reprisal for another shooting last Friday.

Mr Kelly, 45, is a brother of former alderman and Limerick criminal, Mikey Kelly, who died over a year ago from a head wound which gardaí believe was self-inflicted.

The Kelly family have been involved in a long-running feud with the Caseys, who live in Clonlong halting site, not far from the Kelly home in O'Malley Park.

A member of the Casey family was shot and wounded last Friday, but refused to make a statement to gardaí.

Two other members of the Casey family have been shot in the feud. Both survived.

Extra gardaí were sent into Southill last night as fears escalated that the feud may spiral out of control.

Supt Frank O'Brien said: "We would appeal to anybody who was in the O'Malley Park area between 8.30am and 9am to contact Roxboro Road gardaí."