GARDAÍ cordoned off an area this Tuesday (September 30) around the entrance to a halting site on the outskirts of Limerick City, following reports of gunshots fired into a property occupied by a woman and two children.
The shots were reportedly fired through a window at the site at around 2am this Tuesday morning.
No injuries were reported as a result of the shooting.
Armed Gardaí responded at the scene and a Garda forensic search took place of inside and around the site.
Gardaí also requested the assistance of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit attached to the Defence Forces.
The EOD unit travelled from Cork and was later given a Garda escort from the scene to another location.
When asked for comment, a spokesman said “the Defence Forces does not comment on ongoing operations due to operational security reasons”.
A video of a large Garda presence at the site, as well as tape cordon at the site, was shared on social media.
It’s understood Gardaí were investigating a potential link to another shooting at the same location on September 3.
On that date, a gunman discharged at least one shot in the broad daylight attack. Dashcam footage from a passing motorist, shared on social media, showed a man dodging traffic on foot along Childers Road pursued by a group who appeared to be carrying weapons.
A recent surge of violent incidents in Limerick has threatened to drag the city back to levels of feuding that left around 20 murdered in the 2000s.
Gardaí remain actively braced for the next attack, although management is tight-lipped about operations targeting those behind the violence.
Garda overtime for armed patrols was recently approved to allow armed units to monitor flashpoint areas, due to a rise in drive-by shootings, firebombings, pipebomb attacks, and attacks on homes and vehicles.
The parties involved in the tit-for-tat violence were video recording the attacks on phones and sharing the offending on social media.
One recent video earlier this month showed an unidentified man preparing and firing what appeared to be a semi-automatic firearm in a field.
Garda sources said the type of firearms used by those involved in the violence are extremely dangerous.
An explosive ordnance disposal unit attached to the Defence Forces has made several recent trips to different parts of Limerick this year, from its base in Cork, to deal with several pipe bombs.
