LAST UPDATE | 22 Oct

GARDAÍ PURSUED SUSPECTS in a car chase after a petrol bombing attack on a family home in Limerick last night.

The incident happened in the O’Malley Park area in South Hill on the southside of the city shortly after 10.30pm.

It is the second petrol bombing incident in as many days and it is understood to be the seventh such arson attack across Limerick in recent weeks. 

It is believed to be linked to an ongoing feud in the city which involves some criminal elements who would have been involved in the original McCarthy/Dundon and Keane/Collopy feud.

That gang feud claimed the lives of more than 20 victims in the 2000s. 

The incidents are linked to factions spread across multiple housing estates in the city. 

Last night’s incidents started with the petrol bombing of the house in O’Malley Park. 

The local fire brigade responded to the incident as did gardaí. As a Garda car came to the scene a silver Audi left the area and officers gave pursuit. 

It is understood that the car went onto the nearby motorway and drove the wrong way against the flow of traffic in an attempt to escape. 

Gardaí were behind the car in pursuit for a time but then backed off to a safe distance.

Gardaí later found the car abandoned and they believe that the suspects escaped in a second car. 

Gardaí have increased garda patrols in the area of Ballinacurra Weston and also established a specialist patrol to target gang members. 

A Garda spokesman confirmed that “Gardaí are investigating an incident of criminal damage by fire at a domestic residence in Southill, Limerick, on Monday night, 21 October 2024”.

“A male, aged in his 50s, was conveyed to University Hospital Limerick for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life threatening.”

“No other injuries have been reported at this time.”

“A scene is currently being held for examination and enquiries are ongoing.” 

Last Sunday morning local Gardaí, firefighters and paramedics raced to a house in the same Southill estate after an arson attack.

A woman in her 40s was taken by ambulance from the scene to hospital for non life threatening injuries.

Last Friday, Gardaí discovered a pipe-bomb and requested the assistance of a Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Detonation (EOD) team after a car burst into flames in another attack at the Star Court estate, John Carew Park.

In another incident last Sunday night, 20 October, a man in his late teens was shot in the leg at Hyde Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, as further tensions escalated on the south side.

On Friday, 4 October, another suspect explosive device, which was later declared not viable, was recovered from underneath a car parked outside houses at Pike Avenue, Garryowen.

Gardaí discovered the device after responding to a complaint of criminal damage to the car.

Late last month a number of males were recorded on video approaching a house at Pike Avenue, Garryowen before the house erupted in flames.

One of the males caught on fire as he and the others fled the scene on 22 September.

The video was shared on social media.

A man in his 30s who was in the house at the time jumped from an upstairs window at the property and suffered non life-threatening injuries.

Gardaí are investigating if any of the incidents are linked.