Feud fears grow after gunmen attack house
Man’s murder sparks retaliation
GARDAI have warned of a dangerous escalation in a feud as gunmen launched an attack after a St Patrick’s night murder.
Jamie Higgins was stabbed to death at 2am as he enjoyed a night out with pals in a nightclub in Shannon, Co Clare.
He was rushed to University Hospital Limerick but he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The incident stemmed from an ongoing feud between two groups in the city.
Now gardai in the city once plagued by a murderous gangland feud, fear the killing may spark open conflict. In retaliation for the stabbing, a house on the Father Russell Road was riddled with gunfire.
In a follow-up operation gardai seizes an arsenal of weaponry including a Remington Pump action shotgun and a Walther P99 handgun.
Officers are now hunting the gunmen as they fight to shut down the feud before it escalates. It centres on three families and sources have said it is not a criminalbased issue but a dispute between former close friends and relatives. There are at least 10 young men involved on both sides.
A source said: “Limerick has been through enough in the past with the Mccarthy Dundon and Keane Collopy feud. More than a dozen people died in that.
“The city has turned a corner and the decent people are leading the charge to make the city great. This feud is very worrying for everyone as it looks like it is about to escalate big time.
“Gardai in Roxboro are working on limiting the feuding parties and have even given directions to one of the main players to live outside of town.
“It is in the balance but serious work is being done behind the scenes.”
Gardai have issued a nationwide alert for three men who were spotted near the shooting incident.
Separately, a 19-year-old man arrested in connection with Mr Higgins’ murder was released but the probe is continuing as garda compile a file for the DPP.