Automatic weapon used in attack on Limerick home

GARDAÍ said more than 10 shots were fired at a house on the outskirts of Limerick early yesterday.

The rear of the house at Clonlara was hit during the attack at around 2.15am.

Superintendent John Kerin said: “Quite a number of shots were fired and we are satisfied that an automatic weapon was used. A back bedroom window and door were hit.”

A couple in their 50s and their daughter in her 20s were asleep at the time and were not injured. They moved to Clonlara some years ago from the St Mary’s Park area of Limerick city.

Supt Kerin said: “We are trying to establish what motive there might have been for this attack and we have carried a detailed forensic examination of the area and found some bullet cases. We don’t know why, but the house was targeted for some reason.”

This was the first serious shooting in Limerick since April. There has been a dramatic decline in the use of automatic weapons due to armed garda patrols and the presence of a regional armed unit.

Moves have been started to broker a truce between the main feuding gangs. A recent meeting was called off after media learnt of it.