Ireland Investigation ongoing into violent confrontation with Gardaí in Limerick City
On Sunday 30 July 2023 in Limerick City, uniformed gardaí seizing a vehicle that had allegedly been stolen came under attack, with rocks, glass bottles and a bicycle reportedly thrown at them and a marked patrol car. An Armed Support Unit member used pepper spray to disperse a large crowd, and a young man was seen throwing a bicycle at a Garda vehicle in footage that is circulating online. Limerick Leader reported the incident on 2 August 2023 and said investigations were ongoing. As of 12 August 2023, An Garda Síochána confirmed the investigation is ongoing and said there have been no arrests at this time.
- Reported2 Aug
2 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí seizing a vehicle in Limerick City came under attack from a group of young men.
- Rocks, glass bottles and a bicycle were reportedly thrown at gardaí and a marked patrol car.
- Footage shows a young man throwing what appears to be a bicycle at a Garda vehicle as it left the Ballinacurra Weston estate.
- Footage shows an Armed Support Unit member spraying a hooded young man, who had approached him wheeling a bicycle, with what appears to be pepper spray.
- When
- The incident took place on Sunday evening, 30 July 2023.
- Where
- Gardaí went to the Clarina Avenue area to seize the vehicle, and the violence occurred in Ballinacurra Weston, near a statue of the Virgin Mary.
- One report places the incident in the Crecora Avenue area of Limerick City, while another places it in Ballinacurra Weston.
- Cause
- The vehicle gardaí were seizing had allegedly been stolen, while local sources say the violence began as gardaí tried to remove a small horse truck from the area.
- Weapon
- Pepper spray was used to disperse a large crowd.
- Other details
- A local source said the area was tense because of feuding families and shootings on the Hyde Road.
- Investigation
- The Armed Support Unit was called to the scene and the incident was reported by Limerick Leader on 2 August 2023.
- As of 12 August 2023, investigations are ongoing and gardaí say there are no arrests at this time.
19 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí came under attack while uniformed officers seized a vehicle in Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatRocks and bottles were believed to have been thrown at gardaí and a bicycle at a marked patrol car. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatGardaí were targeted with glass bottles and a bicycle was thrown at them. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatFootage shows a number of young men accosting a Garda Armed Support Unit car. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatFootage shows a young man throwing what appears to be a bicycle at another Garda vehicle as it exits the Ballinacurra Weston estate. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatFootage shows a member of the Armed Support Unit spraying a hooded young man with what appears to be pepper spray. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe incident took place in Ballinacurra Weston. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereGardaí went to the Clarina Avenue area to seize a vehicle. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred near a statue to the Virgin Mary. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe incident took place in the Crecora Avenue area of Limerick City. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on Sunday evening. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on Sunday 30 July 2023. (limerickpost.ie)
- causeThe vehicle gardaí were seizing had allegedly been stolen. (limerickleader.ie)
- causeLocal sources claim the violence occurred when Gardaí were trying to remove a small horse truck from the area. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe Armed Support Unit was called and pepper spray was used to disperse a large crowd. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationAn Garda Síochána confirmed investigations are ongoing into public order incidents in the Crecora Avenue area on 30 July 2023. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationGardaí said there are no arrests at this time. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherA local source said the area was tense because of feuding families and shootings on the Hyde Road. (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Aug2023Investigation ongoing into violent confrontation with Gardaí in Limerick City
Reports the investigation into a 30 July 2023 public order incident involving Gardaí, based largely on circulating online footage. Gardaí say there are no arrests at this time.
victimsuspect, male - 2 Aug2023Armed Support Unit deployed as rocks, bottles and a bike thrown at Limerick gardai in 'volatile situation'
Adds that gardaí went to the Clarina Avenue area to seize an allegedly stolen vehicle, that rocks, bottles and a bicycle were thrown at gardaí and a marked patrol car, that the Armed Support Unit was called, that pepper spray was used, and that a local source linked the tension to feuding families. Reports that investigations are ongoing.