Gardaí in Limerick believe they may have foiled further feud-related violence following the seizure of a cache of high-powered firearms.
In a planned operation yesterday, gardaí recovered two hunting rifles and a pump-action shotgun on waste ground in the Rhebogue area of the city. Both rifles had been fitted with telescopic sights. A tripod and a small amount of ammunition were also recovered at the scene.
Up to 20 gardaí were involved in yesterday's searches.
"These high-powered rifles are particularly dangerous weapons capable of hitting a target up to 500 yards away. It's a major coup to get these guns off the streets before Christmas," said a senior Garda spokesman.
It is believed the firearms had recently been stolen in the Galway area.
The seizure followed a separate Garda operation last Friday in which another rifle and a sawn-off shotgun were seized at a house in the Castlepark area of Moyross.
Gardaí believe the weapons could have been stored for future use in the bloody family feud which has already claimed several lives.
"We know these people are continuously moving weapons from A to B. They could certainly have been used in the ongoing feud or in other serious criminal activity in the city," added the Garda spokesman.
All five firearms have been sent to Garda headquarters in Dublin where forensic examinations will be carried out.