Cyclist gunman wounds doorman

A PUBLIC house security man was shot and wounded in Limerick last night.

The shooting happened near the entrance to the Spotted Dog public house in Janesboro shortly after 7pm when a man on a bicycle produced a gun and opened fire.

After the security man was hit a number of times, the gunman who wore a hoodie cycled off. A garda spokesman said the wounded man did not received life threatening wounds and was being treated at the A&E department of the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.

Gardaí suspect a member of the notorious McCarthy-Dundon gang may have been involved, as they have carried out at least one attack on security men at pubs and nightclubs in Limerick.

Witnesses said the gunman calmly cycled up to the front of the pub, produced what seemed to be a handgun and started firing.

The pub was packed as people were out celebrating after the international bands parade in the city.

The Spotted Dog is one of the best-known pubs in Limerick and is regarded as one of the best managed.

A theory being followed by gardaí at Roxboro Road Garda Station last night was that a member or an associate of the McCarthy-Dundon gang had been turned away earlier in the day.

In December 2004 a barman at another pub, Brannigans in Mulgrave Street, was shot and wounded when a gunman wearing a motorbike helmet walked through the crowded bar, jumped over the counter, and shot a young barman.

A short time prior to that the barman had refused entry to a relative of one of the McCarthy Dundon gang members.