FEUD FEARS OVER SCHOOLBOY ARSON GANG
Kids as young as 10 hired to carry out attacks by crime bosses
A CHILD arsonist – aged 10 at most – is suspected of torching a house as a new gangland feud threatens to erupt.
He was spotted with two other boys attacking the property linked to a violent fall-out between two Limerick mobs.
A source said the blaze was in retaliation for a shooting that started over a drug debt.
The insider added: “The attack was carried out by three schoolboys, hired for the job. Limerick has a long history of violent feuds and there is a culture of using youngsters to carry out attacks.
“Gardai are keeping a lid on it at the moment but the fear is that this could escalate.”
The fall-out is the most violent of two feuds at present in the city once gripped by a bloody clash between the Mccarthy-dundon gang and the Keane-collopy faction – which claimed 12 lives.
A CHILD arsonist is at the centre of the latest escalation in a new gangland feud.
The firestarter was allegedly spotted with two other schoolboys launching an attack on a house linked to a fight between two gangs in Limerick city.
In the moments after the crime, the child – who was no more than 10 years old – was so small he struggled to remount a bicycle on the footpath outside and make his escape.
ATTACKED
The feud originated after one gang arrived in a housing estate on the city’s southside – not far from Roxboro Road Garda station – and was attacked.
It is one of the most violent feuds in the city once blighted by the clash between the Mccarthy-dundon and Keane-collopy crime gangs.
During that mob war at least 12 people were killed with some estimates putting the body count as high as 20.
Now a new group, with elements of involvement from a family with links to the now defunct Mccarthydundon gang, has launched a campaign. A source said: “This all started over a drugs debt when one of the gangs went to collect the money, a man was shot in the stomach. “The housing estate where this is centred around is full of decent people who have nothing to do with crime. A small group of people are causing all these issues. “There have been several incidents associated with this dispute but the next flashpoint was when a house was burned by the opposing faction in retaliation for the shooting.
“That attack was believed to be carried out by three schoolboys hired for the job.
“Limerick has a long history of violent feuds and there is a culture of using youngsters to carry out attacks.
“The gardai are keeping a lid on it at the moment but the fear is this could escalate.”
There have been shootings and other incidents linked to the fall-out. In October a Yugoslavian-made grenade was thrown at a house. The pin was pulled but it failed to explode. In another incident a pipe bomb was delivered to a rival and beatings have been carried out by both sides.
Threats are being made on a daily basis and it is feared a strike by either side could escalate it to tit-for-tat murders.
The source added: “In the past it has been shown there is a ready availability of firearms in certain communities in Limerick – the worry is these gangs could start escalating this further. One of the gangs involved is a feared Traveller family who have a long history of violence. They are also directly linked to the Dundon family.”
On the northside of the city in the Moyross and Saint Munchin’s Park area a feud between rival young thugs petered out after robust Garda action.
Meanwhile, a 21-yearold man was fighting for his life last night after being stabbed on Maiden Street, Newcastle West, in Limerick.
A suspect, in his late 20s and believed to be from Eastern Europe, was arrested at the scene.
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A small group of people are causing the issues SOURCE ON THE LATEST GANGLAND FEUD