A gunshot was discharged from a moving car on Wednesday evening, marking the third incident in an escalating feud between two families from Patrickswell and Charleville, Limerick Live can reveal. This latest incident comes after a 12-year-old girl required surgery for serious head injuries and a man, in his 20s, sustained a severe laceration to his hand during a machete attack.

The incident occurred at approximately 7.20pm on the N20 between Charleville and O'Rourke's Cross, Co. Limerick. Two vehicles were traveling towards O'Rourke's Cross from Charleville, when a firearm was discharged from one of the vehicles in the direction of the second vehicle. While authorities have not received any reports of injuries, they are actively investigating the incident at Bruff Garda Station.

Limerick Live has learned that the weapon used in the shooting was a shotgun and the shooter failed to hit the targeted vehicle. The feud between the families from Limerick and Cork has no prior history of trouble, making the sudden violence particularly unsettling.

The first incident, an aggravated burglary, took place at Lisheen Park, Patrickswell on August 9th at 7am. The perpetrators, armed with slash hooks, attacked a man who sustained a severe laceration to his hand and was subsequently taken to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.

Ten days later, on August 19th at approximately 11.30pm, a second incident occurred at a property in Newline, Charleville. It is believed that a young girl sustained serious head injuries when an implement was thrown through the front door of the family home while masked individuals attempted to force entry. The girl was taken to Cork University Hospital and later transferred to Temple Street Children's Hospital for surgery. She is now reported to be recovering well.

Despite hopes that the injury to the young girl would bring about a sense of reason and de-escalation, the feud escalated further with the shooting incident on Wednesday night. Gardaí from Roxboro, Charleville, and Bruff are now actively investigating all three incidents.

A Garda spokesperson stated, “A firearm was discharged from one of the vehicles in the direction of the second vehicle. Gardaí have received no reports of any persons injured, at this time. Investigations into all the circumstances of this incident are ongoing at Bruff Garda Station.”

Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the incidents to contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. This is an evolving situation, and we will continue to provide updates as they become available.