Limerick gang 'terrorising' local community

Gardaí are investigating after a man was the victim of a drive-by brick attack last night.

It is thought to be part of a string of crimes carried out by a gang of youths in the Thomondgate area of Limerick.

The gang have been terrorising the local community for the past few weeks, local politicians and residents have said.

Father-of-three Gerry O'Donovan was driving in the area at 7.15pm last night when a brick was fired into the front passenger door of his family car.

Terrified, Mr O'Donovan swerved his car, narrowly missing a head-on collision with a bus.

It is the second such attack in the area in recent days.

Breaking down as he recalled the shocking incident, Mr O'Donovan said said: "There was a gang of youths on the footpath and one of them stepped out between the traffic and next thing, before I knew it, the passenger side window was shattered. With the shock of it I swerved and nearly hit an oncoming bus.

"The bang was incredible.

"It was a stroke of luck I hadn't my wife or my new three-month old baby or my three-year old son in the car at the time. They would have been destroyed in glass."

Mr O'Donvan has called for more Garda patrols in the Thomodgate area.

Meanwhile, local Labour councillor Frankie Daly, showed a car that had been stolen from the area and destroyed by the same gang.

He said the gang were "terrorising" normally quiet neighbourhood where there is a mostly elderly community.

Cllr Daly said the gang has been "defecting and urinating" in front lawns, robbing houses and cars, and causing general mayhem.

"Basically there are large gangs in the area congregating on Friday nights. I'm working closely with the council to try and nip it in the bud," Cllr Daly said.

"They're defecting and urinating in gardens. There's robberies, you name it, it's happening at the moment. There's a bad element creeping in.

"They come from all over the north side, and they are linking through social media. They're meeting in Thomodgate and they're taking drugs and elderly people are been terrorised.

"These gangs have no regard for the local community."

Gardaí at Henry Street and Mayorstone are investigating.