Limerick man shot in back at bonfire

A Limerick man is recovering in hospital today after he was shot in the back at a bonfire in a housing estate in the city in the early hours of this morning.

The victim - who is in his early 30s - suffered pellet wounds to his shoulder after he was hit from behind by a man armed with a shotgun.

The shooting happened shortly after 1am this morning in Sarsfield Gardens, Moyross on the north side of the city.

A 22-year-old man was arrested less than an hour later and is being questioned at Henry Street garda station in the city, where he is being held under Section 30 of Offences Against the State Act.

The victim of this morning's shooting was taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital where his condition was described today as comfortable.

"The victim's injuries are not life-threatening and we are following a definite line of inquiry," said a garda spokesman.

It is understood the shooting is linked to a local dispute in the Moyross area.

Meanwhile in a separate incident, gardaí in Limerick seized €300,000 worth of cannabis following searches in Meelick on the outskirts of Limerick on Friday night.

The drugs were found buried in wasteland in Meelick at around 7pm. The discovery was made following several hours of searches which were carried out by uniformed gardaí and detectives attached to the Drugs Squad. The drugs have been sent to Dublin for further technical examination.