A 16-year-old girl was recovering in hospital last night after a handgun was discharged at a house party in Limerick city early yesterday.
The teenager was injured when shots were fired in the driveway of a house at Crecora Avenue at 5.40am.
A large crowd of teenagers and young adults who had been socialising together were present when the weapon was discharged.
All of the people gathered were known to each other and it is believed the victim was injured when the shots ricocheted before hitting her.
She was not deliberately targeted and was more than likely hit by somebody "messing about" with the firearm according to Garda sources.
The 16-year-old, who lives in the area, suffered superficial gunshot wounds to her side and upper body and was recovering at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital yesterday where her condition was described as comfortable.
"She's very lucky indeed and would be dead if the discharged shots hadn't ricocheted first," said a Garda spokesman.
A technical examination of the scene was being carried out yesterday and detectives were still waiting to interview the victim.
One senior Garda source expressed serious concern yesterday that somebody was in possession of a handgun which was discharged in a housing estate.
Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the incident can contact Roxboro Garda station at 214340.