Teen sub-machine gun arrest may have stopped feud killing

A LIMERICK teenager who was arrested carrying a submachine gun early yesterday may have been on his way to carry out a feud killing.

The 19-year-old from Southill was found carrying an Ingram sub-machine gun the same kind of weapon used by the US army special forces. Nearly 200 bullets were also found with the gun. The gun and ammunition have been sent for forensic examination.

The teenager is a known associate of the feared McCarthy Dundon gang which is based in Ballinacurra Weston.

They are known to be bringing in high-power weapons with the drugs consignments they import into Limerick.

The arrested man was still being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at Roxboro Road Garda Station last night.

He is likely to be brought before Limerick District Court today.

Gardaí intercepted him after he was seen getting a taxi in the city centre.

The taxi was stopped by detectives at Childers Road, not far from the home of a family associated with the Keane gang.

A garda source said they believed the man may have been on his way to carry out a murder.

"We were lucky the gun was not loaded with ammunition as we could have found ourselves in a very volatile situation. The Ingram is more powerful than the Uzi."

The arrested man is a known associate of a key figure in the McCarthy Dundon gang who was arrested recently after a threat was made to a man in a business premises in the city.

There are more than 50 men currently serving sentences and in custody awaiting trial arising from the ongoing feud.

The feud has led to four murders and hundreds of shooting incidents. Both the main gangs run huge drugs operations in Limerick.