Pipe bomb found in Moyross garden

Army bomb disposal experts were called to Limerick's Moyross estate yesterday after a viable pipe bomb was discovered in the …

Army bomb disposal experts were called to Limerick's Moyross estate yesterday after a viable pipe bomb was discovered in the garden of a house.

The discovery was made less than 48 hours after an 18-year-old man was shot at three times in the same estate.

Gardaí believe both incidents are connected to a local feud which has resulted in violent incidents in Moyross over the past 12 months.

Yesterday's pipe bomb discovery was made at around 3.30pm by two uniformed gardaí who were carrying out searches in the Pineview Gardens area.

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The bomb disposal team from Collins Barracks in Cork was alerted.

A spokesman for the unit confirmed last night that a "viable pipe bomb with potentially serious consequences" had been found.

"The device was dismantled by the bomb disposal team and handed back to the Garda for further forensic examination," he said.

It was the second time in recent months that bomb experts have been called to the Moyross estate.

In March a controlled explosion was carried out on a similar device which was also discovered in the garden of a house in Pineview Gardens.

Meanwhile, a teenager injured in a gun attack on Friday night was recovering in hospital last night.

The 18-year-old victim was sitting in a car at the entrance to the Pineview Gardens/Delmege Park area of Moyross when at least three shots were fired at him.

The female driver of the car was not injured in the attack, which took place at 8.45pm.

The victim was rushed to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, where his injuries were described as "not life threatening". His condition was said to be stable yesterday.

Over the past 12 months there has been a spate of violent incidents in the area, including an arson attack in which a young sister and brother suffered horrific injuries and a gangland murder where Frankie Ryan (24) was shot dead as he sat in a car.

In April this year Moyross man Noel Campion (35) was murdered in daylight after he was ambushed by a gunman in the Thomondgate area of Limerick city.

Anyone with information on Friday's shooting or yesterday's pipe bomb is asked to contact gardaí at Mayorstone on (061) 456980.