Limerick shooting not linked to feud, say gardaí
The victim, 30-year old Joseph McCarthy, was rushed to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital after being shot in the chest at point blank range on Thursday night and his condition is said to be critical, but stable.
A woman and her children watched in horror when two masked men forced their way into the house at 35 Craeval Park, Moyross, and shot Mr McCarthy in the chest with a shotgun in the kitchen.
The men wore balaclavas and fled from the scene on foot.
Supt Willie Keane of Henry Street Station, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are satisfied that this shooting incident has nothing to do with a recent major feud in the city. Obviously, we are trying to establish a motive for the attack and are waiting to speak to the injured man on the matter.”
He said the gardaí are following a number of lines of enquiry.
Gardaí confirmed there was a woman and a number of children in the house at the time, but they were uninjured.
The injured victim, nicknamed “Dodo”, is known to the gardaí.
Gardaí have appealed for any witnesses to the incident.
“We are particularly anxious to hear from anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the Craeval Park area between 9.30pm and 10.30pm. Any information should be conveyed to Mayorstone Garda Station (Tel:061-456982) or Henry Street Station (Tel:061-212400).”
The scene of the latest shooting was sealed off for detailed forensic examination and gardaí are carrying out house-to-house enquiries in the hunt for the victim’s attackers.
Members of the Emergency Response Unit and local armed detectives are continuing their patrols in Moyross and other areas on the northside of the city.
This is the first shooting incident in the city since the horrific murder of crime boss Kieran Keane on the outskirts of Limerick on January 29 last.
His nephew Owen Treacy survived multiple stab wounds in the same incident.
Gardaí stress, however, there is no connection with Thursday night’s incident and recent attacks in the Limerick city.
More than 30 people have been questioned in connection with the Keane murder.
