Army joins search for abducted brothers

The Army tonight joined a search for two brothers missing since being abducted at gunpoint in Limerick on Thursday night.

The operation was concentrated on the outskirts of the west of Ireland city, and police urged landowners and anyone who might be out hill walking in the area to be on alert and report any suspicious activity.

Overnight, Catholic Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray appealed for anyone with information about the men, Eddie Ryan, 20 and his 19-year-old brother Kieran, to help find them and bring both home safely.

Dr Murray said the abduction, and other recent incidents in the city, showed the pointless cruelty of violence and intimidation.

The missing pair were forced into a car near the centre of Limerick by two masked and armed men who fired a shot that narrowly missed a friend who was with them.

Their two captors wore balaclava helmets and carried guns. The third man, Christopher Costello, told gardai that following a struggle, they were bundled into the gunmen’s black car and driven away at speed.

Pellets lodged in Mr Costello’s jacket, but he managed to flee and raised the alarm before he was taken to hospital and later discharged.

Detectives believe the abduction could be linked to a feud between Limerick families, and associates of the missing brothers have indicated they know who was responsible for the abduction.

Less than 12 hours before the abduction incident, Kieran Ryan was assaulted outside Limerick Circuit Court House where he had been appearing on an assault charge.

Counsel for Mr Ryan, Brian McInerney, told the court that his client had been the victim of a “serious assault” outside the courthouse.

The case later collapsed after the key witness said that he could not remember who had attacked him.

The abducted men’s mother, Mary Ryan, has remained heavily sedated at the family home, being comforted by family and friends.

A garda helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft conducted sweeps of Limerick city and nearby woodland yesterday and joined in today’s resumed search operation.

Garda Superintendent Willie Keane, who is heading the investigation, said officers were extremely concerned about the brothers, reporting: “It is obviously a very serious situation.

“These two young men are missing since between 10.20pm and 11.30pm Thursday evening and I would appeal to anyone who would be holding them at the moment to release them unharmed.”

He asked for anybody with information on the incident to contact gardai in Limerick.