Two held over Limerick shooting

Gardaí in Limerick arrested two brothers today as part of an investigation into an incident last week in which a teenage boy suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

The men – one in his 30’s and one in his 40’s – were arrested by gardaí in O’Malley Park, Southill at around 8am this morning.

The pair are being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at Roxboro Road garda station.

Both are being questioned about an incident in which a 15-year-old boy was shot in the head in O'Malley Park on the night of September 5 last.

The bullet, which was later removed in hospital, lodged in the side of the teenager's temple but fortunately did not penetrate his skull.

Gardaí said the boy, who is expected to make a full recovery, was “extremely lucky” to be alive following the shooting.

Gardaí believe that the gun used in the shooting may have been a low calibre weapon. It’s understood that the incident was linked to a dispute on the southside of the city, which has escalated in recent months following several violent incidents.

Three weeks ago, Anthony Kelly – a brother of the late Limerick city councillor, Michael Kelly - was hospitalised after he was involved in a violent scuffle near Limerick Prison.

Mr Kelly is a younger brother of the former city Alderman who died in June – a month after he suffered a mystery gunshot wound to the head.

Anthony Kelly and his late brother had also claimed they had been dragged into a bitter dispute with another family in the Southill area of Limerick city.

A garda spokesman confirmed that both suspects detained at Roxboro Road garda station can be held for up to 72 hours without charge.