25-year old Gareth Grant from St Ita’s Street, St Mary’s Park was reportedly standing outside his house when a lone gunman approached him and opened fire hitting the victim a number of times.

An armed detective unit was on the street where the victim was murdered at the time, and a unit from the armed Emergency Response Unit was carrying out a checkpoint on the top of St Ita’s Street when the shooting occurred.

“At the time of the incident a number of armed patrols were stationed in St Mary’s Park. The Emergency Response Unit (ERU) had been deployed to Limerick the previous week on foot of orders from the Garda Commissioner. They had been conducting a checkpoint in the area and an armed Garda unit were also on the street. It shows a certain amount of bravado that this shooting was carried out with Gardai close by,” said Supt John Keirns, Henry Street Garda Station.

Gardai were questioning the suspect in relation to the killing of Mr Grant, who was not known as a serious player on the criminal scene. It was the second gun murder in Limerick so far this year compared to four in 2006.

It’s understood that Mr Grant suffered gunshot wounds to the upper body and head and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mid Western Regional Hospital.

Gardai at Mayorstone are directing the investigation into the murder and have been conducting house-to-house enquiries.

Gardai have yet to establish why Mr Grant was gunned down in such a brutal fashion, but they are investigating a number of lines of enquiry including the possibility that the killing was feud related.

The 25-year old victim leaves behind a young widow and three children including a baby.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gardai at Mayorstone on 061-456980.

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