Teenager shot while ‘messing’ with handgun
A 15-year-old received a bullet wound to the leg at around 1.45am yesterday.
He was treated at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, and his injury was not life-threatening.
A garda spokesman said they were investigating the discharge of a firearm.
The incident occurred outside a house in St Ita’s Street, St Mary’s Park.
Gardaí suspect that a number of people had gathered and were “messing” with the handgun when it discharged one round, hitting the youth.
It is believed the youth is connected to a family involved in a feud which has resulted in up to 20 recent shooting incidents.
A girl aged 16 was hit in the chest last week when youths were engaged in target practice outside a house in Ballinacurra Weston.
She was treated at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.
She is a member of a family connected to the feud.
Gardaí carried out an extensive investigation into the shooting, but is believed they were unable to get anybody present at the incident to make a statement.
In follow-up searches, a hand gun was located in open ground in Ballinacurra Weston.
Ballistic tests are being carried out to ascertain if this weapon was used in the shooting which resulted in the injury to the girl.
Supt Frank O’Brien of Roxboro road said gardaí are very concerned at the proliferation of guns in the city and said it was fortunate that nobody was killed in recent shooting incidents.
A 16-year-old received serious injuries when he was hit in a drive-by shooting in July. He was talking to a man who gardaí believe was the intended target.
The car used by the gunman was found burned out on the outskirts of the city.
The youth’s mother said she planned to move her family to England as a result of what happened.
Extra armed patrols have been put in place to contain the recent upsurge in feud-related violence in which shots have been fired at a number of people including children and two grandmothers.
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