A man was shot dead and two others were injured in a shotgun attack at a housing estate in Limerick city last night. A Garda spokesman said a suspect in his late 30s is being held for questioning.
It is understood shotgun rounds were fired by a person who emerged from a terraced house after three men called to the building at Byrne Avenue. The man who was killed is believed to be in his 20s. His companion was injured in the same vicinity and the third was injured a short distance away, apparently after running from the scene.
Gardai are appealing for witnesses and detectives were conducting house to house enquiries yesterday evening at Byrne Avenue, Prospect.
A 50-yard section of the road, including 14 houses, was cordoned off following the shooting at about 9.20 p.m.
Two separate scenes were preserved under plastic, awaiting examination by a State pathologist and members of the Garda technical bureau this morning.
Supt Willie Keane, of Roxboro Garda station, who is leading the investigation, said a shotgun was recovered from the scene. He said the suspect was being held under section 30 of the Offences of the State Act.
Neighbours in the area were "shocked" at the incident. One said it was a quiet, settled area and he had never heard of a major incident like this there.
The injured men, both in their 30s, were detained overnight at Limerick Regional Hospital. A spokeswoman said one was undergoing surgery, while the other was being treated at the Accident & Emergency Department.