Son of crime boss used Glock gun

The teenage son of a Limerick crime boss used a powerful Glock semi-automatic handgun when he tried to kill the 17-year-old son of a rival crime gang member, it has emerged.

Gardaí discovered two spent shells at the scene of the shooting and forensic tests have indicated that a Glock was used.

The attack has sparked fears that jailed gang leaders are grooming their young sons and other relatives to carry on the blood vendetta which erupted with the murder of gang leader Eddie Ryan, 40, in the Moose Bar in November 2000.

To date 19 men have been shot dead in the feud. More than 70 others have been jailed. Eddie Ryan was shot dead by Kieran Keane and Philip Collopy.

In the latest incident a week ago a young relative of Owen Treacy was shot at by a youth related to “Fat John” McCarthy, who is serving 14 years for running a heroin factory in Moyross.

McCarthy is linked to the McCarthy Dundon faction.

Owen Treacy was abducted with his cousin Kieran Keane in February 2003.

Kieran Keane, 36, a leader of the Keane Collopy gang was shot dead on an isolated road at Drombana on the outskirts of the city. Owen Treacy was left for dead with 11 stab wounds.

He surived and his evidence led to five members of the McCarthy Dundon gang being jailed for life for the Kieran Keane murder. One of the five was Dessie Dudon, brother of convicted killers Wayne and John Dundon.

Garda concerns have been heightened that youths aged as young as 17, related to either side in the feud, have been involved in a number of recent shootings.

Supt Dan Keane said: “We have put a lot of extra armed and uniformed patrols in the St Mary’s Park, Thomondgate and Moyross areas. These young lads were cruising around trying to stir up trouble. We have mounted an operation with different strands to deal with this and keep a lid on it.”

The fact that a teenage gunman had access to a high power Glock has added to garda concerns.