Limerick feud suspects to seek bail

A NUMBER of men linked to a Limerick feud are expected to seek bail at Limerick District Court this morning amid tight security.

They have been charged with a variety of offences and will be brought to court under armed guard.

All persons seeking entry to the court building will be checked. Well-placed sources said the gardaí plan further search and arrest operations in the city.

Nine people were arrested in the huge operation mounted in Ballinacurra Weston last Friday in which more than 130 gardaí, many of them armed, took part.

Eight people are in custody as a result of the operation. A number have indicated they will apply for bail at a sitting of Limerick District Court, to where they have been remanded.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern and Garda Commissioner Fachtha Murphy were recently briefed on the gang crime situation in the city during an hour-long meeting at Roxboro Road garda station.

As a result of that meeting, Commissioner Murphy ordered the immediate deployment of the Emergency Response Unit to Limerick.

The search and arrest operation on Friday followed a surveillance operation involving specialist units.

Mayor Kevin Kiely yesterday praised the gardaí in Limerick for the work they are doing to deal with serious organised crime in the city. “The gardaí are doing excellent work in the city,” he said. “For long enough, the city has been brought to its knees by criminals besmirching the good name of Limerick. It is about time they are being taken on and put in their place.”