Fears heavily armed drugs gangs may target gardaí

A GARDA chief in Limerick admitted yesterday he feared for the safety of his officers from heavily armed gangs.

Garda Chief Superintendent Gerry Kelly pledged to end the city's bloodbath despite threats to gardaí by rival drugs gangs.

Expressing serious concern about the volume, variety and calibre of weapons in the hands of local thugs, the chief superintendent said sniper activity could now develop.

Meanwhile, Junior Justice Minister Willie O'Dea claimed criminal activity in Limerick was having a negative impact on inward investment and tourism in the city. The Limerick East TD said the "good work carried out in the city was being undone by negative perceptions associated with media publicity around criminal incidents".

Justice Minister Michael McDowell also warned feuding gangs that the full force of the law will be used to stop a bloodbath breaking out in the city following the murder conviction of five men over the weekend.

One of the men convicted of murdering crime boss Kieran Keane warned the victim's family after the trial: "Remember for every action there is a reaction remember that."

Anthony "Noddy" McCarthy's warning in court is being taken very seriously by gardaí and the minister. Gardaí have mounted round-the-clock undercover patrols in Limerick's feud blackspots, but they confirmed that the shooting of a man in his 20s in the city's south side on Saturday night was not gang-related.

The man is in a stable condition in the Mid-West Regional Hospital.

Both the minister and the gardaí are determined not to lose the fight against feuding gangs.

"This minister is determined to stop any bloodbath that rival gangs in Limerick might be planning," his spokesman said.

Gardaí in Limerick and Dublin have received 55,000 extra hours in overtime for the last 10 weeks of this year and that will be increased by another 14% next year.

And the minister will tackle the gangland crime bosses by bringing in series of tough laws. These will include stopping those convicted of murder getting parole after seven years; tough penalties for being a member of a criminal gang and a new criminal court system.