Shooting may be linked to gang murder

LIMERICK gardaí were yesterday continuing their investigation into the shooting in which city gang figure Brian Collopy was shot and wounded.

The McCarthy-Dundon gang are the main suspects as Collopy aged 34, was hit twice.

Gardaí suspect the shooting may be linked to the murder of Noel Crawford whose funeral took place yesterday. Mr Crawford, was shot dead at the door of his mother’s home as he was celebrating his 40th birthday. Gardaí believe the intended target was the dead man’s brother, Paul. He is aligned to the McCarthy-Dundons and has stated there is contract out on him. Paul Crawford has survived three attempts on his life since early November. In one gun attack his young nephew, Jordan, aged five, was shot and wounded when a gunman opened fire on Mr Crawford at the same spot where Noel Crawford was gunned down on Monday. Noel Crawford had no criminal connections and worked as a part-time security man.

Gardaí say it was a case of a man being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Fearing an outbreak of tit-for-tat violence, extra armed patrols have been put in place in Limerick over the past 24 hours.

Brian Collopy the latest feud target, has been the subject of a major Criminal Assets Bureau investigation.

The High Court gave the CAB possession of a house owned by Collopy at Fedamore and they sold it last year for €225,000.

A further court judgment for €400,000 has been secured by the CAB against him. The CAB told the court Brian Collopy had accrued his wealth from drugs dealing and selling guns to a Limerick gang.