Mother takes Jordan to secret address

THE mother of five-year-old shooting victim Jordan Crawford brought him to a secret address in Limerick last night after he was allowed home from the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.

Olivia Crawford initially brought Jordan to the family home in O’Malley Park to be reunited with his brother Dylan and sister Leah.

But within a few hours she packed her bags and left with her children, saying: “Jordan is too afraid to sleep here tonight. He would not be able to sleep and I don’t want to take any chance after what happened. We are moving to stay at friends.”

Jordan was laden down with gifts and toys sent to him at the Sunshine Ward in the hospital.

Olivia, aged 31 and four months pregnant, said: “He is great and the nurses and doctors were great. When I told him he was going home, he got afraid and I think he will have a difficulty if we were to stay on in O’Malley Park.”

Jordan was hit in the thigh by a bullet fired from a powerful machine gun on Sunday night when the family home was attacked.

His uncle, Paul Crawford, aged 32, said the gunman was out to get him.

Family members including Jordan came out of the house on hearing the window of Mr Crawford’s car being broken.

Paul Crawford, who is known to the gardaí, said: “They drove in the window of the car to draw me out. It was the third gun attack on me within 72 hours. There is a hit on my head.”

It is believed he has been singled out because he has links to a person who is an associate of the McCarthy Dundon gang.

Olivia Crawford has been in contact with Limerick City Council’s housing welfare officer to get another house in the city.

However, due to the number of council tenants seeking transfers to alternative addresses because of fear and intimidation, the council’s director of housing, Pat Dowling said there could be no quick fix.

However, Mr Dowling said: “But if there are severe humane circumstances we will look at the application in the best light.”

The garda investigation is continuing.