A Limerick TD, Mr Willie O'Dea, has said he is prepared to act as a mediator in a dispute between two factions in the city which is believed to have led to the murder of a 40-year-old man 10 days ago.
Mr O'Dea said he believed he knew the parties in the dispute which led to the shooting of Mr Eddie Ryan in a city-centre pub, and if they wanted him he would mediate. Residents in other parts of the city were now living in fear, he said.
"Innocent lives are being put at risk. I am prepared to use whatever goodwill I have with all sides to put this thing to an end," he said.
Mr Ryan acted as an "enforcer" for a well-known criminal gang at one time but he became embroiled in a dispute with members recently. Gardai believe that what began as a trivial argument escalated into the shooting of Mr Ryan by two masked men in the Moose Bar.
Had he not been shot, he would have been due in Limerick District Court yesterday on a charge of possessing house-breaking implements.
Insp John Murphy, of Henry Street Garda station, said Mr O'Dea should talk to the Gardai about any mediation process.
He added that gardai still had an open mind on an incident on Saturday night when shots were fired at the occupants of a van by a man in a car.