Extra gardaí drafted into city as feud ‘gets out of control’

LIMERICK’S bloody feud has got out of control in recent days, a senior detective warned yesterday.

Extra gardaí from around the country have been drafted into the city as an extra precaution. Detective Garda Brian Sugrue of Henry Street was giving evidence at Limerick District Court where he objected to bail for two teenagers who he alleged were central figures in one feuding gang, the McCarthy Dundons.

Det Garda Sugrue said: “this feud is getting out of control yet again.”

Before the court were Gerard Dundon, aged 19, of Hyde Road, Prospect and Ger Galvin, aged 18, of Lenihan Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston.

Both are charged with causing malicious damage to a car stopped in city traffic on October 2.

The court heard it was being driven at the time by a man related to the Keane family from St Mary’s Park.

Det Garda Sugrue alleged that both Dundon and Galvin were central figures in the feud and both had access to guns.

Opposing bail for Dundon, Det Garda Sugrue said: “this man is central to the feud and is one of the core people in it and has access to firearms.”

He said Dundon was aligned to the McCarthy Dundon feud gang. He said it was his belief, if bail was granted, that Dundon would involve himself in more serious incidents.

He said many people had already lost their lives in the feud.

Aeneas McCarthy, solicitor for Dundon, put it to the witness: “you want to intern him?”

Det Garda Sugrue answered: “I want to prevent further serious offences.” Det Garda Sugrue said that Dundon had in the recent past gone to St Mary’s Park where he had behaved in a threatening manner near the home of Owen Treacy, the key prosecution witness in the Kieran Keane murder trial last December, which led to five men being jailed for life.

Objecting to bail for Galvin, Det Garda Sugrue alleged he too was very involved in the Limerick feud and also had access to firearms if given bail.

He alleged that Galvin was also aligned to the McCarthy Dundon gang.

When Mr McCarthy put it to the witness that he was merely speculating about the feud escalating, Det Garda Sugrue said there had been a rise in incidents in recent days, adding that Galvin was central to a large group and would get involved if allowed out on bail.

Judge William Earley refused bail to both and remanded them in custody to Limerick Prison until next Tuesday’s court.

As he was led away, Dundon shouted to the court: “Up your hole.”