'Feud family' man shot dead

A man was shot dead in Limerick tonight in the latest episode of a bloody feud between warring families in the city.

The victim was gunned down as he carried out work on a patio by two men on a motorcycle who pulled up outside the house, with the pillion passenger opening fire.

The man was taken to Limerick Regional Hospital, but died soon afterwards.

He was named locally as John Ryan, who was in his 40s and lived in Limerick.

Mr Ryan’s brother Eddie was shot dead in Limerick in November, 2000, and his nephews Edwards and Kieran Ryan were abducted last January, reappearing almost a week later unharmed.

During the same period, another man, Kieran Keane, was shot dead near Limerick.

John Ryan was believed to have been shot four times in the back and leg in the attack, and a search was on for the gunmen in and around Limerick.