GARDAÍ are investigating a drive-by shooting at a house at Rathkeale, County Limerick, this past Sunday night (December 21).
A number of shots were discharged at a house located in the west Limerick town, the latest in a string of violent incidents.
Sources said a large Garda presence was visible in the town across this week to keep a lid on tensions.
Uniformed Gardaí, supported by members of the Garda Emergency Response Unit, were conducting checkpoints in the town on Sunday prior to the gun attack.
The Garda helicopter was also present in the town providing air support.
A Garda spokesman said Gardaí are investigating the shooting, which took place on Sunday night at around 9.15pm.
The Garda spokesman said “no injuries were reported” and that a technical examination of the scene was “conducted by the Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit”.
“Investigations are ongoing,” they added.
Local Gardaí, supported by armed detective units, have been trying to keep a lid on tensions between rival feuding families.
Local Fine Gael Councillor Adam Teskey, a former chair of the local community joint policing committee, said he has been “repeatedly calling for extra garda resources” in the town to assist local Superintendent Michael Fleming and his force.
Rathkeale’s population has surged in recent days due to the annual influx in the Traveller community, who traditionally return to the town every Christmas.
The festive period sees families get together to celebrate marriages and christenings at St Mary’s Church in the town.
The vast majority of visiting Traveller families are peaceful and have never engaged in violence or public disorder.
However, a number of criminal elements with international crime links and their origins in Rathkeale can cause trouble in the town during the festive period.
Over two weeks ago, Gardaí, directed by Superintendent Fleming, conducted a search and arrest operation in Rathkeale as part of an investigation into money laundering.
Superintendent Fleming said the focus of the operation was to target the activities of individuals involved in “serious criminality on a transnational basis”.
Approximately €400,000 in cash and bank accounts was seized at 11 locations in the town.
Suspected rhino horns were also recovered during the raids, which can fetch large sums of money on the black market.
On November 30 this year, a house was shot up in the town when multiple shots were discharged from a firearm at the property, which was occupied by people including a child.
No injuries were reported at the time.
Last October, a van was petrol bombed in the town.
Vehicles have been rammed, houses burned, and a man shot and seriously wounded as part of feuding in the town over the past 12 months.