Nine men in custody after Limerick Garda raids target organised crime

NINE Limerick men remained in custody last night after one of the biggest Garda operations ever mounted against organised crime in Ireland.

More than 130 gardaí, many heavily armed, commenced raids on houses in the McCarthy-Dundon gang stronghold of Ballinacurra Weston at 7am. Those arrested are in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

When gardaí entered a number of houses they had to break down metal doors which had been erected on stairways.