Young boy sparks fear at children’s summer play day

A SIX-YEAR-OLD boy sparked fear at a children’s summer play day when he turned up with an Alsatian dog and the word “shotgun” emblazoned across his forehead.

As hundreds of boys and girls took part in fun games at Hyde Ranger soccer ground in Limerick, the young son of a known gang member, arrived with the menacing dog on a lead.

And while the other children lined up to have their faces painted, he already had his done up with the word “shotgun”.

According to an eye witness, at one stage he went to where Mayor Jim Long and other organisers were standing. The eyewitness said: “He began to annoy one of the adults and pointed his finger at his forehead and the word ‘shotgun’ and told the men: ‘That’s what you’ll be getting in the head’. He then walked off with the Alsatian.”

Local sources said the boy brings the Alsatian around on a lead and the dog acts as his personal bodyguard.

“If anybody goes near the young lad, the dog reacts,” said one local who was at the event attended by 500 people.

Asked to comment last night, Mr Long said: “I don’t want to go there. It was a great success and I don’t want to give credence to a few who tried to cause annoyance to all the others who had a great day.”

The Regeneration Agency was also involved in organising the event.