Gun shot on Cork to Limerick road linked to attack that left girl with suspected fractured skull

At one point, a firearm was discharged from one of the vehicles in the direction of the second vehicle

Gardaí are investigating the incident.

Gardaí fear that a gun attack on the N20 is linked to a deadly feud between Traveller clans in Cork and Limerick, which previously saw a 12-year-old girl hospitalised with serious injuries.

The latest incident happened between Charleville and O’Rourke’s Cross around 7.20pm on Wednesday night, when a firearm was discharged from one vehicle targeting another.

Gardaí said they did not receive any reports of injuries following the shooting and have issued an appeal for witnesses after the shots were fired. 

Investigations into all the circumstances of the incident are ongoing at Bruff Garda Station.

Sources said a “shotgun” was discharged but the fired shots did not hit a vehicle that was targeted.

In an earlier attack linked to the feud, a young girl was left with serious head injuries after masked men attacked a house in Co Cork on August 19.

That incident, in which the 12-year-old girl was left with a bleed on the brain, followed another attack when masked men armed with machetes damaged a house in Co Limerick on August 9.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to Wednesday's shooting to come forward.

A spokesperson said: "Any persons travelling between Charleville and O'Rourke's Cross, Co Limerick between 7pm and 8pm on Wednesday 28 August 2024 are asked to come forward.

"Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in this area at these times are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.

"Anyone with any information is asked to contact Bruff Garda Station on 061 382 940, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station."