Fine Gael councillor sends SOS call as more violence breaks out in Co Limerick

David Raleigh

Gardaí are investigating a violent attack by members armed with a firearm and implements on a house in the town of Rathkeale on Tuesday morning.

A group of men armed with a firearm and other weapons caused extensive damage to the house shortly before 1 am, on Tuesday.

Garda sources said the perpetrators smashed up the house with implements believed to be slash hooks, sticks, iron bars, and golf clubs.

When asked for comment, a Garda spokeswoman replied: “Gardaí received a report of an incident of criminal damage that occurred at a domestic residence in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick on Tuesday 28th October 2025 at approximately 12:45 am.”

“No injuries have been reported at this time.”

“Investigations are ongoing.”

Local Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey, has repeatedly called on the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner for extra garda resources for the Rathkeale area, however he said none have been forthcoming.

“I’ve said this before about other violent attacks in the area, and last night’s attack was another example of why we need more Gardaí in Rathkeale. Like I have said previously, I’m blue in the face from saying this,” Cllr Teskey said.

Violent scenes have marred the town’s image over many years due to violence involving mostly members of the Traveller community.

On October 17th last a camper van parked in the town was destroyed in an arson attack.

Last August, a gang of armed men burst into a local pub carrying knives, slash hooks and possibly a firearm, and caustic chemical, intending to burn a man, however the suspected target fled through fields having left through the rear of the pub.

On August 21st last, a car was rammed off a road and the driver shot and injured outside the town.

Last May, four houses in the town were damaged in an arson attack.

Last November, a house was damaged and a car firebombed in the town when a vehicle was driven into the front of a house.

On October 21 last, a truck smashed into a house in the town. On October 8 last year another home was damaged by arson.

In December 2022 feuding groups rammed one another’s cars and produced weapons resulting in the deployment of armed Gardaí to patrol the town to get a hold on the violence which locals described as like a “war zone”.

At the time Cllr Teskey greeted Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, then acting Minister for Justice, who pledged that additional garda resources “would be forthcoming” in Rathkeale and he said “no part of this country is beyond the reach of the law”.

Cllr Teskey said the town is braced for more violence over the Christmas period when the town’s population increases with Travelling visitors.

Weddings, christenings and parties are the traditionally held in the town over the festive time.

While most of the local Travellers and visitors remain well behaved, a small minority have caused issues in the past.

This has led to tensions brewing between families and violence has broken out.

In previous years special court sittings have been held, and armed support units within An Garda Síochána have been deployed to the town.

Special HSE triage clinics, staffed by a GP, nurse and administration personnel, have been also been provided in the town during the holiday season.

The clinics have provided services to both local families as well as visitors with established entitlement for services under the GMS Scheme, EHIC (Issued outside of Ireland) or NHS medical card holders.

The triage units were set up as a means to try to prevent potential major delays at the emergency department of University Hospital Limerick which is consistently the most overcrowded hospital nationally, and has remained so, despite the opening of a 96-bed block on the hospital site on October 13th last.

During the Christmas and New Year periods, the population of Rathkeale increases by several thousand.

Last August, 20 garda recruits were deployed to Limerick and were to be stationed in the city environs.

At the time, Independent Ireland TD Richard O’Donoghue, criticised the placement of the recruits in the city and not in rural Limerick.

The Garda drug unit in the county has also been depleted, Gardaí and local politicians have said.

In response, Garda Headquarters said that all of Limerick was policed by a drug unit based in a Limerick City and that drug seizures were up on last year.

An Garda Síochána said however, that “for operational reasons” it “does not comment on current or future deployment of resources”.

Gardaí have traditionally mounted security operations in the town over the Christmas season and are expected to do that again in a bid to keep a lid on the violence.

“We need more Gardaí, that is the bottom line,” Cllr Teskey said.