Children ‘goad’ gangs on YouTube

LIMERICK’S most senior detective yesterday warned parents the city’s notorious feuding gangs are using children to take part in YouTube videos goading rival gang members.

Members of the Keane-Collopy faction have posted a video on the internet in which they threaten to shoot rival gang member, John Dundon.

The video, Sit Back And Laugh Dundon, has more than 15,000 hits. Young boys take part in the video, delivering a rap-style threat to John Dundon.

Detective Superintendent Jim Browne said these videos are being used to goad the opposing factions, and the young people taking part are exposing themselves and their families to risk. He said they don’t fully understand the consequences of their actions.

“We have seen the video, they are young kids and our advice is for them to stay well away from these people,” said Det Supt Browne.

“Parents should realise that their kids are being used by unscrupulous gangland figures to project their own agenda and intimidate their opposing factions.

“By doing so, the people that they are using are being exposed to danger, both to themselves and their families, said Det Supt Browne.

The Keane-Collopy video shows a hooded figure rapping that he will “make sure that mother f***er John Dundon don’t breathe no more by firing six shots through that Mercedes door.

“One of these days we will roll through your block with our 16-shot Glocks and keep our finger on the trigger.”

Limerick’s Mayor Kevin Kiely said: “This is deplorable and a disgrace and should further strengthen the gardaí’s hand to act under the new emergency legislation.

“A small number of people are bringing this city into disrepute and it shouldn’t be tolerated.”