Security stepped up amid gang violence fears

ARMED patrols have been stepped up in Limerick amid fears of an outbreak of violence between the feuding McCarthy Dundon and Keane Collopy factions following a gun attack on the home of one gang leader.

Members of the Keane Collopy gang based in St Mary’s Park are suspected of carrying out a gun attack on the home of John Dundon, a major figure in the McCarthy Dundon gang, on Wednesday morning.

Dundon’s house at Hyde Road, Ballinacurra Weston was hit a number of times by automatic gunfire while members of his family were in the house.

Dundon, 29, who left Limerick following the murder of rugby player Shane Geoghegan last November, returned to the city earlier this week. He handed himself in to gardaí at Roxboro who had a warrant for his arrest on a public order matter.

Dundon was given bail when brought before Limerick District Court’s holiday sitting on Wednesday. While he was in garda custody his house was attacked.

Sources say the McCarthy Dundons will seek revenge for the attack on Dundon’s house and intense Garda surveillance operations have been put in place in potential flash points in the city.

Gardaí suspect those involved in the attack were also responsible for a gun attack on a house in Garryowen a short time earlier. A couple and two young children who were in that house escaped unhurt.

Two men were still being questioned last night in connection with the Garryowen shooting.